The Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State, Tajudeen Olusi, has disclosed that the council was not informed before the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Speaking with journalists at his residence on Friday, Olusi stated that the lawmakers acted independently, without seeking input from the party or the GAC.
He made it clear that the council had no role in the leadership change that saw Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda assume the position.
“The members of the GAC are not part of the House of Assembly, so the claim that we influenced Obasa’s removal is incorrect. We only became aware of it after it happened. The lawmakers carried out the impeachment without consulting the party or the GAC. That is our stance,” Olusi said.
He explained that after the impeachment, the council engaged with the lawmakers, reminding them of their affiliation with the party.
According to him, while they were allowed to express their grievances, he faulted them for not bringing their concerns to the party earlier. “It is the party that should make such decisions. Lawmakers do not have absolute power to remove and install their leaders. No one can become a member of the House of Assembly without being sponsored by a political party,” he added.
Olusi described the impeachment as an internal matter among lawmakers, emphasizing that Obasa’s removal resulted from a disagreement between him and his colleagues.
He further pointed out that governance operates through interdependent structures, and efforts were being made to resolve the issue.
“There is currently a high-level committee led by Chief Bisi Akande, with members including Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Chief Pius Akinyelure, working to find a resolution. Discussions are ongoing with the House of Assembly, Obasa, and Speaker Meranda. The GAC, alongside APC Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, is also contributing to the reconciliation efforts,” he explained.
Regarding varying opinions within the GAC, Olusi clarified that individuals who spoke on the matter were expressing personal views, not the official stance of the council. He expressed confidence that the crisis would soon be resolved, stating, “Disagreements are inevitable, but mechanisms exist to address them. The party understands its responsibilities and will ensure this issue is settled.”
Tensions escalated further on Thursday when Obasa made a surprising return to the assembly complex, asserting that he remained the Speaker.
Accompanied by security personnel, he arrived at the premises for the first time since his impeachment in January over allegations of financial misconduct.
His return coincided with the withdrawal of security personnel assigned to Speaker Meranda by the police.
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