Several Nigerians have taken to social media to condemn the return of Mudashiru Obasa as the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

After weeks of back-and-forth trailing his controversial removal, Mr Obasa was re-elected as the assembly speaker following the unsurprising resignation of Mojisola Meranda from the position.

Ms Meranda announced her resignation in an emergency plenary on Monday, stating she took the decision in the interest of unity in the assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

Peoples Gazette reported Ms Meranda’s much-expected decision followed President Bola Tinubu’s insistence that Mr Obasa be returned as the speaker.

Meanwhile, the female lawmaker was immediately re-nominated and re-sworn in as the assembly’s deputy speaker, the position she had held until Mr Obasa’s dramatic removal in January.

Many Nigerians on X on Monday decried the development as lawless, faulting Mr Tinubu’s continued political influence in Lagos.

“Now! We can now agree that this man is in charge of Lagos state government and the entire South-West! Omo, I take (sic) God as I no come from state where one man will be telling us who to vote as governor, senator, etc! Since 1999 till date. That’s criminal,” said @OghenetegaOtobo.

Another user, Sam Umoh, wrote: “He is absolutely in charge of Lagos State. He decides, and his decisions are final. What a shame.”

According to another commenter, “He owns Lagos, forget all these people making noise they know even their say doesn’t matter.. thank God in Enugu no formal governor can decide anything people power still count.”

“The owner of Lagos has the final say. Recall, Remi Tinubu asked them to reinstate Obasa immediately after the impeachment,” Nnanna Damian wrote.

Honourable Onochie said, “If we allow Ashiwaju to come back for a second term without being voted out, this is what you will get until God retires him. Nigeria will be in his pocket for life.”