The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly as a testament to the political sophistication of the state and a triumph for democracy.
The ruling party praised the lawmakers for prioritizing collective interests over personal differences, bringing an end to a 49-day leadership crisis that had disrupted legislative activities.
Obasa was removed from office on January 13 following allegations of abuse of office and misconduct.
His impeachment, backed by 32 out of 40 lawmakers, led to the emergence of his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, as the new Speaker, triggering division and legislative paralysis.
The crisis even forced assembly staff to work remotely for safety reasons.
After weeks of negotiations involving the APC leadership, the Governance Advisory Council, and a high-powered intervention committee, with President Bola Tinubu reportedly playing a key role, the lawmakers on Monday reinstated Obasa.
His return followed Meranda’s resignation during a plenary session.
Reacting to the resolution, Lagos APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo described it as a win for democracy and a demonstration of Lagos’ advanced political structure.
“We congratulate the people of Lagos, members of the House of Assembly, APC leaders, and party members for amicably resolving the dispute,” Oladejo stated. “We commend the lawmakers for setting aside personal differences in the interest of collective progress.”
He added that valuable lessons had been learned from the crisis and that the House was now more united in its commitment to governance.
“The resolution of this issue highlights the sophistication of Lagos politics, which remains a model of democratic practice,” he added.
According to Oladejo, the dispute was a test of the APC’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms, proving the party’s ability to handle challenges without external interference.
“As a truly democratic party, the APC did not impose its will on the Assembly but respected its independence. However, when the crisis persisted, lawmakers officially sought the party’s counsel,” he explained.
He emphasized that with 39 out of 40 assembly members belonging to the APC, the party was confident in their collective commitment to effective governance.
“The party proposed stabilizing and sacrificial solutions in the state’s best interest. Our role was purely advisory, while the final decision rested with the Assembly,” Oladejo noted.
He dismissed suggestions that the crisis signaled a major political shift, calling opposition reactions premature. “This was merely a storm in a teacup,” he concluded.