The drama that swept through the Lagos State House of Assembly in early 2025 was more than political theatre; it was a defining moment for democratic governance in Nigeria’s most influential state. On January 13, 2025, while Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was reportedly returning from the United States, the Assembly took the extraordinary step of removing him from office after nearly a decade at the helm.
The allegations against Obasa were grave — ranging from financial impropriety to abuse of office and authoritarian leadership. In a swift turn of events, his deputy, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, was installed as Speaker, becoming the first woman to occupy the position in Lagos history. What initially appeared as a watershed moment for accountability and gender inclusion soon revealed deeper cracks beneath the surface.
The impeachment process itself raised unsettling questions. Reports of a “fake mace,” heavy police presence and claims of intimidation created the impression of a political ambush rather than a constitutionally sound exercise. Obasa would later allege that the Assembly complex was forcibly accessed and that lawmakers loyal to him were harassed. As the dust settled, speculation intensified that the move was less about governance and more about internal power struggles within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly amid whispers of Obasa’s 2027 gubernatorial ambitions.
For weeks, Lagos politics hovered dangerously close to paralysis. Meranda’s historic speakership lasted just 49 days before she resigned, citing the need to restore peace and cohesion within the Assembly. Her exit reopened the door for Obasa, but the final arbiter was the judiciary.
On April 16, 2025, the Lagos High Court delivered a decisive verdict. Justice Yetunde Pinheiro ruled that the January 13 impeachment was unconstitutional, null and void, having violated both the Constitution and the Assembly’s standing orders. Crucially, the court did not examine the merits of the allegations against Obasa; instead, it focused squarely on procedure. The judgment reaffirmed a fundamental democratic principle: due process is not optional, even when political majorities believe they are acting in the public interest.
Obasa’s reinstatement went beyond personal redemption. It was an institutional reset that reinforced the judiciary’s role as a guardian against legislative excess. It also highlighted the value of political dialogue, as party elders stepped in to prevent a prolonged constitutional crisis. In the end, negotiation and the rule of law prevailed over brinkmanship.
Perhaps the most striking element of the saga was Obasa’s resilience. Removed in absentia, subjected to public scrutiny and internal party hostility, he resisted the temptation of street politics or inflammatory rhetoric. Instead, he chose the courts. That decision reflected not only strategic patience but a rare psychological fortitude in Nigeria’s often combustible political space.
For nearly three months, Obasa endured intense pressure with his political future hanging in the balance. His eventual vindication underscored a powerful lesson: leadership is not merely about holding power but about withstanding adversity without abandoning principle.
The Lagos Speakership crisis of 2025 will be remembered as a cautionary tale. It showed how easily power struggles can undermine democratic norms — and how firmly institutions must respond to preserve them. In the final analysis, Lagos learned a lesson with national resonance: power may be transient, but process is permanent. Democracy survives not on ambition or numbers, but on strict adherence to the rule of law.
Dave Agboola is the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.
