Meranda Presides Over Plenary After Obasa’s Meeting With Lawmakers

Mojisola Meranda, incumbent speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, presided over plenary on Monday after meeting with Mudashiru Obasa, the ousted speaker.

Obasa held a meeting with lawmakers on Monday. He thereafter met with Lawal Pedro, the Lagos attorney general; and Cornelius Ojelabi, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

The plenary was without incident as security operatives surrounded the complex to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Obasa made a controversial and triumphant return to the assembly complex on February 27 and presided over plenary with four lawmakers in attendance.

Since his return to the country on January 25, the legislator has insisted that his removal as speaker on January 13 was illegal.

Rumours that Meranda is facing increasing pressure to step down from her position have persisted.

Security aides attached to the incumbent speaker were withdrawn last Thursday, further fuelling uncertainty over the leadership of the assembly.

Moshood Jimoh, the commissioner of police in Lagos, would later clarify that the command had restored Meranda’s detail, adding that they had been withdrawn for audit purposes.

The Governing Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos has held meetings with both camps in a bid to resolve the leadership tussle.