 in Lagos State, Tajudeen Olusi, has revealed that the council was not consulted before the state assembly removed Speaker Mudashiru Obasa from office.){kind=link}
The Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State, Tajudeen Olusi, has revealed that the council was not consulted before the state assembly removed Speaker Mudashiru Obasa from office.
During an interview at his residence on Friday, Olusi stated that the lawmakers neither sought the party’s input nor that of the GAC before proceeding with the impeachment.
He emphasized that the council should not be drawn into the leadership dispute that led to Obasa’s removal and the subsequent appointment of his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, as Speaker.
Clarifying the GAC’s stance, Olusi said, “Members of the council are not part of the Lagos State House of Assembly, so it is untrue to say we orchestrated Obasa’s removal. We only learned about it after it happened. The lawmakers acted without consulting the party or the GAC. That is our position. We later invited them and reminded them that they are all products of the party. They shared their grievances, but I faulted them for not bringing their complaints to the party earlier. The party should have been the one to decide. Lawmakers do not have absolute power to remove and install their leaders. No one becomes a member of the House of Assembly without being sponsored by a political party.”
The APC leader described the crisis as an internal dispute among lawmakers, stating that Obasa’s removal was the result of disagreements between him and his colleagues.
He further noted that no arm of government operates in total isolation, and efforts were underway to resolve the situation.
“A high-powered committee led by Chief Bisi Akande, alongside Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and other members, is currently working to address the issue. They are in discussions with the House of Assembly, Obasa, and Speaker Meranda. The GAC and APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, are also supporting the resolution process,” Olusi disclosed.
Regarding differing opinions within the GAC, he clarified that those expressing views on the matter were speaking for themselves and not for the council as a whole.
He assured that the crisis would soon be resolved, stating, “Disputes are part of life, but there are mechanisms for resolving them. The party is fully aware of its responsibilities and will do everything possible to settle this issue.”
Meanwhile, the crisis escalated on Thursday when Obasa made a dramatic return to the assembly complex, insisting that he remained the Speaker.
His arrival, accompanied by security agents, marked his first appearance at the complex since his impeachment in January over allegations of misconduct and financial impropriety.
His return coincided with the withdrawal of security details assigned to Speaker Meranda by the police.