Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have reinstated Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker, ending 49 days of the speakership crisis.
Obasa returns as the Speaker following the resignation of the former speaker, Mojisola Meranda, during Monday’s plenary.
The former Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, moved a motion to nominate Obasa while Nureni Akinsanya seconded the motion, with no other member nominated for the speakership.
Obasa was subsequently sworn in as the new speaker by the Head of the Legal Department of the House.
Meranda returned to her role as Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.
The speaker, however, promised to listen to his colleagues, thanking the staff and the media for projecting the House well.
Recall that Obasa was removed on Jan. 13 by 32 out of the 40 lawmakers, over financial impropriety, high-handedness and gross misconduct.
Crisis: Speaker Meranda resigns to pave way for Obasa
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports incumbent Speaker Meranda resigned from office to pave way for the emergence of Obasa as Speaker again.
Meranda announced her resignation at plenary on Monday in Ikeja.
Meranda became the first female speaker after Mr Mudashiru Obasa,the former speaker, was impeached by his colleagues for alleged misconduct.
The impeachment of Obasa and subsequent election of Meranda had plunged the State Assembly in crisis.
Obasa returned to the Assembly complex last Thursday for the first time since he was impeached in January ,claiming he was never removed. Before then, he had challenged his impeachment in court.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi,the All Progressives Congress(APC) Chairman in the state , met with Meranda and Obasa on how to put an end to the festering crisis.
Both pro -Obasa lawmakers and those who had pledged support for Meranda attended the meeting.
Announcing her resignation ,Meranda said she was not a quilter ,but took the decision to end in the crisis in the House and save the Assembly embarrassment.
She said: It is with every sense of responsibility that I hereby give you notice of my decision to resign as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly with effect from today, 3rd of March, 2025.
“I did not arrive at this decision lightly, Indeed, I took into careful consideration all the integral circumstances that related with my election as Speaker on Jan. 13 2025.
“I have to make this selfless sacrifice to resign in order to protect this institution. With your unflinching support.
”I made history as the first female Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and I value and cherish the solidarity freely given to me.
“I am not a quitter,however, I took thedecision in order to save this legislative institution from further unnecessary conflicts and embarrassment,” she said.
I am entranced by the dialogue of personal messages, phone calls, public shows of support and groundswell of solidarity from a broad spectrum of our society.”
Meranda said the nation was blessed with great men and women of honour, adding that it was her earnest hope that the leadership of the great party would continue to provide guidance and support for the aspiration of the people.
She thanked the people of Lagos for their understanding and support.
Shortly after the announcement, lawmakers took turns to praise Meranda for her leadership role for the 49 days of her speakership.
The lawmakers described Meranda as a hero of democracy.