- Weighing in on the matter and speaking for the first time since the imbroglio began, Olusi said the lawmakers have no absolute powers to remove or install their leaders
The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) has asserted that the power to remover or install leaders of the Lagos State House of Assembly does not reside with the members of the Assembly.
Chairman of GAC in Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, made the assertion while speaking on the leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly.
The GAC is the highest decision making organ of the APC which has reportedly held series of meetings with the aggrieved lawmakers since the crisis started.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has been embroiled in leadership crisis since the beginning of the year following the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and election of Mojisola Meranda on January 13, 2025, as the new speaker.
Obasa, after his impeachment for financial impropriety and abuse of power, said his removal was unconstitutional and maintained that he remained the speaker of the house.
Both Obasa and Meranda are now laying claim to the Speakership of the House of Assembly.
However, matters came to a head last week after Obasa stormed the chamber and presided over a plenary with four lawmakers present, sparking confusion and further deepening the political crisis.
Weighing in on the matter and speaking for the first time since the imbroglio began, Olusi said the lawmakers have no absolute powers to remove or install their leaders
Addressing newsmen on the crisis, he said neither the GAC nor the party was consulted by the lawmakers before proceeding to oust Obasa.
He noted that the political party was superior to the lawmakers as they were the party’s product and that making such a decision to remove the assembly leader without informing the party was unacceptable.
Olusi said, “Members of the GAC are not members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allegedly be behind the removal of Obasa. It can’t be true.
“We read it also that morning. The lawmakers carried it out without consulting the party and those of us in the GAC. That is our position.
“We invited all of them and insisted that all of them are products of the party. They lodged their complaints and we listened to them.
“I blamed them for one thing and that is for not lodging the complaints earlier before the party. It is for the party to decide, they (lawmakers) have no absolute power to remove and install their leaders.
“Nobody can become a member of the House of Assembly unless sponsored by a political party and the sponsors are the inspectors.”
He however added that discussions were ongoing to resolve the crisis.
“The problem is the speaker (Obasa) and his colleagues which had led to his removal. It is a disputer among them.
“Currently, there is a high powered committee of the party led by Chief Bisi Akande and members, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and former APC National Vice Chairman, South-west, Chief Pius Akinyelure and others,
“They are working and making efforts to resolve the matter. I know they are in consultation with the House of Assembly, Obasa and the other Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
“Those of us in the GAC and the Chairman of the Party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi are doing all within our power to assist the committee,” he added
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