Impeachment not applicable to speaker in the House of Assembly, be constitutional – Obasa

By Olaniyi Badmus

Former Lagos Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has declared that his removal from office is unconstitutional, emphasizing that he remains the rightful speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Obasa made this statement on Saturday in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, during a welcome event organized by his supporters from Agege, Alimosho, and Kosofe local government areas.

According to Obasa, “You can not impeach, you can only remove speaker in the house of assembly, but if you want to remove, you must ensure it’s constitutional”

He emphasized that the process of his removal did not follow constitutional procedures, and he would only accept his removal if it is carried out in accordance with constitutional guidelines.

Obasa’s removal was carried out by 35 out of the 40 members of the assembly on January 13, 2025, over allegations of gross misconduct and financial mismanagement.

He was replaced by his former deputy, Mojisola Meranda, who became the first female speaker in the history of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Obasa also addressed the allegations against him, saying that they could not be substantiated. He emphasized that he has been a lawmaker for over two decades and is the longest-serving lawmaker in the House.

Furthermore, Obasa accused the commissioner of police of leading a team to invade the assembly and his personal home.

He questioned the commissioner’s actions, saying, “Early in the morning the day the incident happened, police invaded the house of assembly led by the commissioner of police, what was he doing in the house of assembly?”

He also claimed that his house in Agege was invaded with more than 200 police men.

Obasa’s removal has sparked controversy, with many questioning the constitutionality of the process.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen what’s next for the former speaker and the Lagos State House of Assembly.