The Governor’s Advisory Council,GAC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos, has moved to resolve the controversy trailing the embattled former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, following his removal.
The indication emerged at the weekend after the GAC members held a crucial closed-door meeting at an undisclosed venue to forge a common front in resolving the matter.
The GAC is the apex decision-making organ of APC, whose decisions are binding on members. The council is led by Pa Tajudeen Olusi, with Mr. President Bola Tinubu as lifetime Patron.
The GAC is made up of past Governors, deputy governors, senators, elders, leaders and chieftains of the party.
Some of the members are: Henry Ajomale, Bushura Alebiosu, Abiodun Ogunleye, Murphy Adetoro, James Odunmbaku, Anthony Adefuye, S. A. Seriki, Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Rabiu Oluwa, Muriano Taiwo, Mutiu Lawal Are, Yomi Finnih, Muyiwa Sosanya, Tunde Samuel, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Rasak Lanre, Obasa, Babatunde Balogun, Wale Edun, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, Ranti Adebule, Senator Ganiu Solomon, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, among few others.
APC chieftain, who spoke in confidence to Vanguard at the weekend, said: “The GAC members, based on the directive of Mr. President, Tinubu, have to step in to save the party from sliding into implosion.”
“I can tell you on good authority that there is no rancour or division among the GAC members.
“As I speak with you, several underhanded meetings are going on among the members to resolve the issue amicably. The GAC members are on the same page to settle the clash in a family affair manner.
“There are conflict resolution mechanisms in the party to handle such matters. Because it has become expedient to save the party from implosion from polarisation going by some statements already flying in public space within the party ranks,” the party chieftain affirmed.
Speaking on the plan to suspend Obasa and subject him to probe, he stated,” I don’t think that would happen. APC, as I told you earlier, has a conflict resolution mechanism that will handle it accordingly. That’s the much I can say.”
Also, speaking on chances of Obasa dumping APC for the opposition party, “Again, I don’t see that happening going by Obasa’s pedigree as a die-hard progressive who believes in democratic principles and who has always been Asiwaju’s boy from the days of Social Democratic Party, SDP.
“Don’t forget, recently, upon his return from abroad, he publicly told his supporters to stay in APC as he has no plans to dump APC. And I want to believe him on that.”
However, strong indications emerged that Obasa might not achieve his aim of returning as a speaker at the end of the day but remain an ordinary member without intimidation or persecution.
Recall that Obasa was removed in absentia by 32 out of 40 members of the state House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, over alleged financial misappropriation, misconduct, and high-handedness, among other things. He was replaced by his erstwhile deputy Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as substantive speaker, leading to conflicting reactions among members of the GAC, party faithful, and the general public.
However, the divergent views among GAC members stemmed from two groups within the council, which includes members of the Justice Forum (JF) and the Mandate Movement (MM).
Some of the notable, influential members of MM are Obasa, Cardinal James Odumbaku, Adefuye, Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon, the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, members of the state House of Assembly, and some chairmen of conference 57.
The JF members include Prince Olusi, as chairman, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the newly appointed state Coordinator for JF and member of the House of Representatives representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke.
MM members in GAC support Obasa, while the JF members are indifferent about Obasa’s removal saga.
However, after Obasa’s removal, the unfolding events further polarised the ranks of GAC.
Some members of GAC had earlier disagreed over the process that led to the removal of Obasa.
In a recent statement, Muraina Taiwo, a member of the GAC from Isolo Constituency, faulted members of the assembly for reconvening during the house’s recess to remove Obasa.
The GAC members, Obanikoro and Adefuye, expressed divergent views over the embattled Obasa.
While Adefuye said Obasa was illegally removed, Obanikoro countered the latter, saying his statement “was careless.”
However, the GAC Secretary, Are, also said that “the brewing crisis in the Assembly is a family affair” and would be resolved in a family way.
Obanikoro, faulted a statement by Adefuye expressing support for Obasa.
Adefuye, said in a recent interview that he disagreed with the removal of Obasa.
“What he is saying is that he was illegally removed, and the procedure was faulty, and I agree with him,” the APC chieftain said.
Reacting to Adefuye’s interview, Obanikoro said the APC chieftain made the statement carelessly, adding that it was important to respect hierarchy in any organisation.
The former minister said, “Senator Adefuye’s statement on the removal of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, is very unfortunate, childish and inconsequential.
“Senator Adefuye’s comment shouldn’t have come up; as leaders, if there are serious issues of this magnitude, rushing to make a press statement or personal statement on such matters is unbecoming of a statement.
“Since GAC as a unit has not made any pronouncement on the subject matter, it is irresponsible of any member of that privileged body to go public and comment on an issue as sensitive as that.
“Moreso, our leader, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, waded in on the matter, so I believe nobody should come out individually to express an opinion based on privileged status.”
They called for calm, saying the matter would be resolved in a family way.
While reacting to the claim by Obasa that his removal was unconstitutional, Are said: “Whatever is currently going on in Lagos politics is a family affair. As an elder, I’m not supposed to take sides.
“We would resolve everything because the GAC, the apex advisory organ, has its mechanism for resolving matters like this.
“By my position as the secretary of the body, I’m not given an express permission to speak to the matter. But I can tell you we’ll resolve it in a family way.”
Taiwo hits lawmakers
A statement by Taiwo, titled: “My take on the ongoing imbroglio in the Lagos Assembly,” read in part, “The act of the lawmakers to reconvene during the recess is illegal.
“It shows total disregard and apparent disrespect for the party’s leadership.
“The GAC Leadership is split over the matter, but we will all defer to the final decision of our de facto leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the crisis.”
Obasa has maintained that his removal as speaker was not constitutional, saying that due process was not followed.
Obasa spoke amid cheers from members of MM and politicians from some local governments in the state at the official residence of the Lagos Speaker in GRA, Ikeja.
The former speaker stressed that the lawmakers’ allegations against him could not be substantiated and that he is the most experienced lawmaker in the assembly, having been elected six times since 2003.
“I thank you for your support and dedication. I will take this advantage to debunk the allegations that were circulated and raised about me.
“I am not disturbed or perturbed, and I am not afraid. I will debunk all the allegations levelled against me by the house.
“I have not done anything wrong. I have been a lawmaker for over two decades, and I am the longest-serving lawmaker in the house,” he said.
The former speaker added that it was important that the due process ought to have been followed before his removal.
“I am not afraid of being removed, after all it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people, and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.
“They removed me all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place; we cannot denigrate the state.
“They should not discredit an innocent person; they should prove their allegations against me. The Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standard of excellence.
“I believe in the image of our institution, we must not destroy it, and I will never partake in its destruction.
“I appreciate the members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the state. He is my brother, and he always calls me his younger brother,” Obasa stated.
He also thanked the president’s wife, Oluremi Tinunu, and President Bola Tinubu, who he said would always be his father.
In the unfolding events, however, some lawmakers were detained last Thursday, January 30, by men of the Department of State Services, DSS, Lagos State Command, and later released.
The lawmakers who were taken for questioning by DSS over Obasa’s removal were released at about 8 p.m. after several hours of interrogation.
In a subsequent statement shortly after their release, Mr. Ogundipe Stephen, on behalf of the lawmakers, insisted that the removal of Obasa was legal.
According to Ogundipe: “All members of the assembly who were detained earlier have now regained their freedom.
“At the DSS office, we reaffirmed our commitment to upholding constitutional governance following the removal of the former speaker.
“The decision was made in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Powers and Privileges Act, which empower the State Assembly to regulate its internal proceedings without external interference.
“Sections 92 and 96 outline the process for the election and removal of the speaker, and due process was followed in our decision.
“It is also in public knowledge that legislative autonomy was granted to State Assemblies, ensuring that elected representatives can conduct their business freely within the chambers assigned to them.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly, as an independent arm of government, has exercised its constitutional duty in the best interest of the people of Lagos.
“The decision to remove the former speaker was made through a democratic process, with the required majority as stipulated by law. Any attempt to challenge this lawful action undermines the authority granted to us by the Nigerian Constitution.
“We commend the professionalism of the DSS office in their friendly invitation. We appreciate the Lagos DSS Command, especially the Director, for ensuring a smooth and respectful engagement.
“The process allowed us to give a clear recount of events in a comfortable and professional environment.
“We reiterate our commitment to legislative duties that serve the interests of Lagosians, ensuring effective governance and the continued development of the state.
“We call on all stakeholders, including the executive arm and the public, to respect the sanctity of legislative proceedings and refrain from undue interference.”
Also, some civil society organisations and human rights groups have come out in defence or against Obasa.
