David Setonji is set to emerge as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, this is as Mojisola Meranda may be returning to previous position as Deputy Speaker, ENigeria News reports.
The intervention of high-powered delegates of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), former APC National Chairman and ex-Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande, former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Akinwunmi Ambode, former Governor of Lagos and Chief Pius Akinyelure, Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited dispatched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have a possible solution to the leadership tussle hunting the Lagos Assembly for weeks now.
ENigeria News reports that President Tinubu had directed the delegates to ensure the rancho was resolved amicably after the Governorship Advisory were unable to do so.
You would recall that the crisis in the Lagos Assembly began on January 13, 2025, when 36 lawmakers unanimously removed Obasa as speaker and replaced him with Meranda, who was deputy speaker at the time.
The development saw more than 90 per cent of the lawmakers unanimously voting for the removal of Obasa citing poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive, especially the governor, abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of members, misappropriation, among other issues raised.
Obasa, who was away in Atlanta, United States, when he was removed, upon his return and reportedly concluding a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja, faulted his removal and insisted he was still the speaker, this is s his colleagues in the House remained adamant.
“My status in the house? I strongly believe I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” Obasa said while addressing newsmen on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
ENigeria News understands that On Sunday, Osoba, Ambode, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the GAC members met at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina in a bid resolve the crisis, by finding lasting solution.
The meeting was said to have lasted till around 7 pm. It was also learnt that the panel earlier met with the lawmakers on the same day.
Speaking with the Punch Newspaper on the outcome of the meeting, a GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, said one of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West was being considered by the party leaders as the new Speaker.
“The issue will die down soon. Between now and the middle of next week, everything will become clearer. The APC leaders, including Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Olusegun Osoba, came to mediate.
“They will go back to Abuja to brief our leader (Tinubu) how they feel about everything. They are suggesting to Speaker Obasa that he should step down and the other woman (Meranda) to also step down and they will bring in another new person. They are thinking of submitting a few names but all will land at the table of the leader.
“You know the House is working based on seniority, that is, if you’ve spent two years at the House, you’re qualified to hold a higher position than someone in first tenure. So they will go back to Abuja with seven names of the seniors in the House and from Lagos West,” he said.
Details of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West have not been disclosed, but sources who spoke to our correspondent said David Setonji who is the current Chief Whip of the House, having served as a Lawmaker since 2015 is being considered based on his experience and seniority.
This arrangement is reportedly influenced by regional representation in state leadership. Presently, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Mojisola Meranda are both from Lagos Central, leaving Lagos West without a top leadership position. Given that Obasa hails from Lagos West, stakeholders have recommended that the next Speaker be chosen from the district.
Born in 1959, David Setonji represents Badagry Constituency II and has been in the House since 2015. He is the current Chief Whip of the House, appointed by Meranda.
A master’s degree holder, Setonji is a former chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Lagos State chapter.
