According to Vanguard news, After weeks of political tension, President Bola Tinubu appears to have stepped back from the deepening crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Mounting pressure from party loyalists and top political figures forced his hand, signaling a potential shift in power dynamics within the APC stronghold.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the party’s highest decision-making body in Lagos, had desperately sought a face-to-face meeting with Tinubu in Abuja to push for a reversal of the controversial leadership change. However, their plans fell apart as the President, preoccupied with urgent state matters and an impending visit to France, refused to meet them. Instead, discussions were reduced to tense phone conversations that ultimately led to Tinubu’s reluctant decision to let the situation stand.
The crisis erupted when 32 out of 40 Lagos lawmakers voted to remove former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025, citing allegations of financial mismanagement, misconduct, and high-handedness. His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately installed as Speaker, triggering outrage within the GAC and among Tinubu’s inner circle.
Both Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, were reportedly furious not just about Obasa’s removal but also about how his successor was chosen without deference to their authority. In the APC’s traditional hierarchy, such major decisions usually align with Tinubu’s preferences.
In a bid to restore control, the GAC dispatched a delegation to Abuja, hoping to secure Tinubu’s endorsement for a Lagos West candidate instead of Meranda, who, like the governor, hails from Lagos Central. But lawmakers refused to back down.
Despite intense pressure, Lagos lawmakers stood their ground, asserting their right to self-governance. Even a lucrative political offer meant to sway 20 lawmakers from Lagos West failed these lawmakers refused to trade their support for personal gain, pledging unwavering loyalty to Speaker Meranda, even if it risked their re-election in 2027.
Faced with this resistance, Tinubu had little choice but to step back. His inability to overturn the lawmakers’ decision marks a rare moment where his influence in Lagos politics has been openly challenged—and successfully resisted.
Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu, who had been caught in the crossfire, is breathing a sigh of relief. The prolonged leadership battle had consumed his attention, but with the dust settling, he can now shift focus back to governance.
Lawmakers are set to resume legislative duties on Thursday, ending weeks of political gridlock. A formal notice has been issued for an 11 a.m. session to deliberate on critical state matters, signaling a return to normalcy.
APC heavyweight Fouad Oki has urged party leaders to accept the reality of the situation and allow the Assembly to function independently. In a strongly worded letter to the GAC chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Oki warned that rejecting the lawmakers’ decision could damage the party’s credibility ahead of future elections.
“The decision stands, and it’s time to move forward,” Oki wrote, emphasizing that Lagos’ politically active population would not tolerate leadership that disregards public sentiment.
Dr. Segun Awosanya echoed similar sentiments in a separate letter to Tinubu. He praised the President’s history of nurturing strong leaders but cautioned that internal party discipline must not be sacrificed for personal ambitions.
Awosanya reminded Tinubu that the Assembly’s decision was not an act of rebellion but a necessary correction to a leadership failure. He revealed that under Obasa, many lawmakers faced intimidation, exclusion, and financial suppression, which crippled their ability to perform their legislative duties effectively.
He urged Tinubu to support the new leadership as a way to restore fairness and reinforce the democratic values he has always championed.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
