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Nigeria · West Africa
Public power, representation and democratic consequence
Tinubu rebuffs Akande Panel as he throws weight behind Obasa reinstatement
Amidst ongoing crisis which has rocked Lagos State House of Assembly in recent month, former governor and the president of the federation has ordered the reinstatement of the impeached Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
The move is said to put an end to leadership in the State House of Assembly, the president appears to back the reinstatement of the of Obasa as the Speaker of the House, opposing initial recommendation for Obasa’s resignation.
This resolution came following a physical session between President Tinubu and all forty (40) Lagos State House of Assembly members at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The President’s eventual move to restore Obasa as the Speaker opposes the recommendation of a panel he had previously inaugurated to look into the crisis.
The inaugurated panel was led by former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State Governor Chief Gbenga Daniel. Including the leadership of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), which recommended that Obasa should be impeached and stepped down after being reinstated.
Tinubu Rebuffs Akande Panel
Earlier reports suggested that the panel initially recommended that Mojisola Meranda should resign for the reinstatement of Obasa as the Speaker of the House, with the belief that Obasa would also step down shortly after−which would eventually pave way for the
House Speaker to be selected from Lagos West to balance Lagos State’s political structure.
As it can be recalled, on 3rd March, 2025, forty-nine days after Obasa’s impeachment, Meranda stepped down and eventually re-elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House Assembly.
Howbeit, as opposed the deal, Obasa adjourned plenary till further notice and also decided against own resignation as expected.
Obasa was impeached on 13th January, 2025, by the thirty-five members of Lagos State House of Assembly who alleged that he misappropriated public funds, is highhanded and an authoritarian leader.
Meranda was installed to replace Obasa but eventually resigned following perceived pressure from party leaders.
On Wednesday, various news outlets observed that the Lagos lawmakers arrived at the Presidential Villa on a Coaster bus at about 2pm, as the security officials led them into the President’s chamber.
Meranda was seen arriving with other lawmakers, as Obasa arrived separately at about 3 pm. The meeting was held behind closed doors with no journalist was allowed in.
According to a presidency official, whose identity was asked to be shielded due to lack of authorization, disclosed that Tinubu has pacified the crisis and brought about peace within the opposition factions by asking the lawmakers to work with Obasa to maintain stability and cooperation in the State Assembly and the entire state.
Tinubu Rebuffs Akande Panel
“Tinubu met the lawmakers behind closed-doors. They spoke on their grievances and the President has resolved the problems.
“With the development, Obasa will stay as Speaker. His position is no longer threatened. All the lawmakers have agreed to work with him.
“They all had a photo session with the President after the meeting. It went well,” the source said.
Meanwhile, some Lagos House members were distasted that the initial accord was not sustained, the official assured that the President would see the aggrieved persons to reinstate unity and oneness.
“Some stakeholders are naturally displeased Obasa reneged on the agreement with the Akande panel. I’m sure the President would engage everyone to settle the matter,” the source added.
A source close to Obasa camp also disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the Lagos Speaker to retrieve his lawsuit contesting his removal as the Speaker of Lagos State of House Assembly.
“The President told the lawmakers to allow Obasa to work, and Obasa should also withdraw the case against Meranda and the lawmakers in court. The lawmakers have agreed to this,” the source said.
On Tuesday, Obasa’s legal counsel Chief Fashanu Afolabi (SAN) told reporters that the Lagos Speaker had not withdrawn his lawsuit against the state despite his reinstatement as the Speaker.
He stated that Obasa alleged that the Lags Assembly members were heavy and needed to be replaced.
“Because there are some issues that are still pending within the context of notice of allegation.
Tinubu Rebuffs Akande Panel
The case of allegation contains reasons for the impeachment which include highhandedness, fraudulent malpractices and the rest and we feel that those issues must be trashed out,” he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
On Monday, lawsuit filed by Mudasiru Obasa was adjourned by Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja to 17th March, 2025.
At the re-sitting of the proceedings on Monday, Lead Counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN) told Justice Yetunde Pinheiro disclosed that Obasa’s Lead Counsel, Afolabi Fasanu (SAN) had served new fresh papers on his clients which corroborated his reaction.
“The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits today, challenging my clients to have a reaction,” Falana said.
Lead Counsel for Mojisola Meranda, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), also stated in the court that the further processes made reference to contained serious fraud allegation against his clients.
“There are serious fraud allegations in the further affidavits my learned brother referred to.
“We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application,” Oyetibo said.
Having said this, Falana asked the court to hear the application on the change of counsel.
In addition, he posited that a Court of Appeal decision has saddled a trial court to consider applications for change of counsel before any other applications are considered.
Howbeit, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro stated that a hearing of all applications and processes in the court would be considered all at once.
The court then ordered all parties to file, serve and exchange their processes before the next adjourned date
“All the applications will be taken at once. All applications including those seeking injunction and those challenging jurisdiction will be heard on March 17.
“The application concerning the change of counsel will also be heard at the same time on Monday,” she said.
Tinubu Rebuffs Akande Panel
