The removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly has caused rifts within the APC, with opposition parties ready to accommodate him if he exits the ruling party
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he ongoing crisis following the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has intensified divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Also read: APC leader criticises removal of Lagos Speaker Obasa
Obasa was removed on January 13, 2025, over allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation, triggering differing reactions among the party’s top decision-makers, particularly within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC).
Two prominent GAC members, Senator Anthony Adefuye and Chief Muraina Taiwo, voiced opposition to Obasa’s removal, calling the process illegal and disrespectful to leadership.
Senator Adefuye further criticised the decision, while Taiwo’s brief statement conveyed discontent, stressing that the GAC remained divided on the matter.
Despite this, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro dismissed their concerns, urging party leaders to avoid hasty judgments and let the issue play out.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has stated that it expects Obasa to return before taking any further action, including potential investigations.
However, as of the time of reporting, it remained unclear whether Obasa had returned to the Assembly.
In the wake of the crisis, opposition parties in Lagos have expressed openness to welcoming the embattled former Speaker should he choose to leave the APC.
Benedict Tai, Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, stated that while Obasa would be welcomed if he joined the party, appropriate checks would be implemented to ensure that he did not disrupt the PDP’s structure.
Tai added that the PDP intended to capitalize on the APC’s internal disarray to strengthen its position in Lagos.
Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos, under the leadership of Pastor Dayo Ekong, also expressed a willingness to integrate Obasa into the party should he decide to switch allegiance.
Ekong clarified that Obasa would be accepted provided his interests aligned with the LP’s principles.
He stressed that while the LP would not offer preferential treatment to Obasa, he would have to go through the party’s primaries to test his popularity, just like any other candidate.
Also read: Lagos Assembly votes out Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Speaker takes over
The current political turmoil within the APC has created a window of opportunity for opposition parties to challenge the ruling party’s dominance in Lagos, with both the PDP and LP poised to take advantage of the division to make inroads in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
