After weeks of back-and-forth trailing the controversial impeachment of the erstwhile Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Mojisola Meranda on Monday resigned as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly in keeping with the order of President Bola Tinubu.

Peoples Gazette learnt that Ms Meranda resigned from her position in the interest of unity in the assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress in Lagos.

On January 13, Mr Obasa was removed as speaker after lawmakers learned, through The Gazette’s reporting, that he had looted billions in procurement allocations for vehicles and other items they did not receive.

Ms Meranda was immediately named as his replacement.

The Gazette also reported that since her inauguration as the speaker, Ms Meranda was not allowed to move into the official residence along Joel Ogunnaike, Ikeja G.R.A, as Mr Obasa refused to vacate the Speaker’s Lodge, denounced his impeachment as illegal and vowed to remain in office. 

On February 14, Mr Obasa dragged Ms Meranda and the Lagos Assembly to court to challenge his controversial removal from office. The politician insisted his impeachment did not follow due process, seeking immediate reinstatement.

The politician’s lawsuit followed several failed political meetings to resolve the leadership crisis. The meetings were held for several weeks between Lagos and Abuja involving politicians loyal to Mr Tinubu. 

The president, who heads the Governance Advisory Council of APC in Lagos, had ordered lawmakers to return Mr Obasa to office, but the crisis lingered as colleagues feared the impeached leader might target them in retribution. 

However, a member of the council, Muraina Akanbi Taiwo, stated that moves to reinstate Mr Obasa would be rejected, insisting that Mr Tinubu is not God.

On February 27, Mr Obasa announced on Thursday that he had once again assumed the position of Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly despite Ms Meranda insisting she is the legitimate head of the parliament. 

“I’ve resumed and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Mr Obasa said after storming the parliament with police and State Security Service detail.

Critics have also slammed the president’s order seeking Mr Obasa’s reinstatement as a threat to democratic survival, insisting Mr Tinubu should allow the rule of law to take its course on the matter.