New Assembly Speaker Meranda Meets Lagos APC Power Brokers

The newly elected Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has held a crucial meeting with the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

This meeting comes in the wake of the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker, and Meranda’s subsequent election to the role on January 13. Obasa’s removal followed serious allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of power. Prior to his impeachment, Meranda served as the Deputy Speaker under Obasa’s leadership.

Meranda Seeks GAC Support

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Meranda explained the purpose of her meeting with the GAC. She said it was to update the council on the recent developments in the Assembly and to seek their support.

“The meeting was to brief them about what happened at the House of Assembly yesterday and to seek their blessings, which we have,” Meranda said.

Tensions Between the Executive and Legislative Arms

The leadership shakeup in the Lagos Assembly occurred just months after a tense period between the executive and legislative branches of government. In October 2023, Obasa and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu met with the GAC following disagreements over the governor’s nomination of commissioners. The Assembly had declined to confirm 17 out of the 39 commissioner-nominees, raising concerns over strained relations between the executive and legislative arms of government.

The leadership change in the Assembly comes at a critical time, with Meranda’s position seen as an opportunity to restore stability and foster cooperation between the two branches of government.