Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Tinubu over the leadership impasse, pitting impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa against many lawmakers who are opposed to his reign in the Lagos House of Assembly.

The Lagos parliament was plunged into a crisis after the impeachment of Mr Obasa over allegations of fraud and the emergence of Mojisola Meranda as the speaker. 

“Despite his undisputed influence over Lagos politics, President Bola A. Tinubu has remained conspicuously silent on the matter,” said a statement by his media aide Paul Ibe. “His refusal to address the crisis suggests a tacit endorsement of the anti-democratic manoeuvres aimed at imposing his preferred candidate against the overwhelming will of assembly members.”

It added, “This silence is deafening and deeply concerning.”

The impeached speaker announced on Thursday that he had once again assumed the position of speaker of the Lagos assembly.

It was unclear how the politician arrived at the decision. He was impeached on January 13 by an overwhelming majority of Lagos lawmakers. He was replaced with Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who became the first female speaker of the Lagos Assembly.

However, Mr Abubakar said what happened at the Lagos parliament “is nothing short of an assault on democracy and a throwback to the dark days of military dictatorship.”

The statement added, “We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant and resolute in defending the sanctity of our democratic institutions.”