The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) has offered impeached Lagos State House of Assembly speaker Mudashiru Obasa a senatorial ticket in the 2027 election, with a promise to remove his replacement, Lasbat Meranda, so that he can forgo the speakership position, Peoples Gazette has learnt.
Sources privy to the development told The Gazette that the council arrived at a decision during a meeting in Marina, Lagos, on Monday, where members discussed means to resolve the ongoing crisis in the assembly, which was occasioned by Mr Obasa’s removal.
GAC, a decision-making body in Lagos was formed without any constitutional and statutory power by Mr Tinubu to control the state politics. It currently consists of 33 members, and it is considered a powerful political body because it helps the president choose his favourite candidate for the state’s governorship seat and other top positions.
Mr Obasa, one of the most powerful figures in Lagos politics, had insisted he remained the speaker, following the backing of Mr Tinubu, who ordered lawmakers to reinstate him.
Despite Mr Tinubu’s order, The Gazette learnt that Lagos lawmakers do not want him back as their principal due to fear of retaliation, and following the meeting held by some GAC members, the council resolved to offer Mr Obasa the Lagos West Senatorial ticket currently occupied by former Deputy Governor Oluranti Adebule.
The sources warned that there would be further division in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should lawmakers adhere to Mr Tinubu’s directive on the reinstatement of Mr Obasa.
“Returning Obasa as the speaker is going to further divide the party in the state,” a source said. “We accept that Mojisola should go, but for the sake of peace and unity, Obasa should take the Senate seat in the next election while we look for another lawmaker to become speaker.”
“The president has given his directive, and nobody is going against that. We are only going to plead with him to consider our options,” the source added.
The proposal presented to Mr Obasa includes removing Ms Meranda and appointing a neutral person as the new speaker should he accept the Lagos senatorial ticket.
The council cited Ms Meranda, being from the same Apapa I constituency as Governor Babadjide Sanwo-Olu, as the justification to remove her, with six potential replacements being shortlisted by the GAC members, sources noted.
Mr Obasa has remained defiant about relinquishing the speakership seat and refused to vacate the speaker’s lodge to allow Ms Meranda to move in. He met with Mr Sanwo-Olu on Saturday to finalise his return as speaker, which insiders said could come as soon as this week.
The sources added that some GAC members have immediately travelled to Abuja to meet with Mr Tinubu on Tuesday to further discuss the situation.
“However, whatever the president says will be our final,” the source added, highlighting that the ultimate decision rests with the president.
The Gazette reached out to Mr Obasa for comments but has yet to receive a response at the time of filing this report. Also, presidential spokespersons Bayo Onanuga and Sunday Dare have yet to respond to requests for comments.
(Vanguard)