Two former Speakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Olorunnimbe Mamora and Hon. Sabit Ikuforiji, have backed the recent impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, asserting that the process was constitutional and valid.
AFRIPOST reports that Obasa was removed from office on January 13, 2025, by 32 of the 40 Assembly members while he was abroad in the United States.
He was replaced by Mojisola Meranda amidst allegations of fraud and abuse of office.
Upon returning to Nigeria, Obasa rejected the impeachment, describing it as unconstitutional and lacking due process.
He challenged the lawmakers to provide evidence of their claims, maintaining that all expenditures during his tenure were properly documented.
In a statement, Mamora referred to Section 92 of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority for the impeachment of a Speaker. He emphasized that the Assembly adhered to this provision regardless of the allegations’ validity. Mamora also pointed out that if Obasa had indeed shown disrespect toward the Governor, it would have been an unacceptable violation given the Governor’s role as the state’s chief executive.
Ikuforiji, speaking during an interview on Arise Television, dismissed Obasa’s claims of political motivation behind his removal. He noted that the Constitution does not mandate lawmakers to provide specific reasons for removing a presiding officer.
“The lawmakers don’t need to give any reason for removing the Speaker. Even if they decide on something as trivial as the Speaker wearing powder, they can remove him. It’s constitutional,” Ikuforiji said.
He urged Nigerians to better understand the 1999 Constitution, explaining that only the impeachment of executives, such as the President or Governors, involves a more rigorous process and requires a two-thirds majority vote.