By Ayomide Otitoju
The power struggle over the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly has deepened as the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC) challenges the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signaling a shift in political control within the state.
At a crucial meeting held on February 3 at the Lagos Marina State House, GAC members appeared to align with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, sidelining Tinubu’s directive to reinstate former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The deadlock follows the controversial January 13 impeachment of Obasa by 32 lawmakers, who installed Hon. Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker.
Despite criticism from senior GAC figures, including Senator Anthony Adefuye and Chief M.A. Taiwo, who labeled the impeachment “illegal,” opposition within the council, led by its chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has resisted Tinubu’s intervention. The disagreement culminated in a tense GAC meeting where proposed speaker candidates from Lagos West were rejected, further stalling a resolution.
Sources indicate that Governor Sanwo-Olu, whose strained relationship with Obasa is well known, has been discreetly supporting the opposition to his reinstatement, complicating efforts to enforce Tinubu’s directive.
With both sides entrenched, the political impasse continues, raising questions about the shifting power dynamics within Lagos politics and the limits of Tinubu’s influence over the state’s leadership.
