The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has refuted claims that the resignation of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa was part of the terms agreed upon to resolve the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
This clarification follows a peace meeting convened by Obasa on Tuesday to reconcile with aggrieved lawmakers, just 24 hours after his re-election as Speaker. The Speaker has also pledged to withdraw his lawsuit challenging his previous removal.
Obasa was re-elected on Monday after Mrs. Mosisili Meranda stepped down from the position. The reconciliation process was facilitated by key party leaders, including Governance Advisory Council (GAC) chairman Pa Tajudeen Olusi, APC chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN).
Speculation had arisen that the settlement included an agreement for Obasa to step down within 48 hours, making way for a new Speaker from Lagos West, as demanded by 34 aggrieved lawmakers. However, Lagos APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo dismissed these claims, insisting that no such arrangement was made.
“To the best of my knowledge, there was no time the arrangement for Obasa to resign came up in the terms of settlement of the crisis,” Oladejo stated in a chat with Vanguard.
Regarding the Speaker’s lawsuit against his colleagues, Oladejo confirmed that Obasa is expected to withdraw the case soon in the interest of peace and progress within the Assembly and the APC.
Meanwhile, Obasa held a closed-door reconciliation meeting with 39 lawmakers at the Assembly complex on Tuesday, with Deputy Speaker Meranda in attendance. The meeting, which began around 2:10 p.m., aimed to ease tensions and realign the lawmakers towards a unified course.
A source disclosed that Obasa is likely to drop his lawsuit against the House of Assembly and 33 lawmakers at the Ikeja Court. The House has been mandated to resume proceedings tomorrow.
