On Monday, 13th January 2025, the Lagos State House of Assembly made history by removing its long-serving Speaker, Chief Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, and replacing him with the state legislature’s first female Speaker, Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
Chief Obasa had been the Speaker for almost 10 years, having been elected Speaker on 8th June 2015.
He is the longest-serving lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly having been first elected in 2003.
The emergence of Mrs. Mojisola Meranda as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly has come as a surprise to many.
Beyond the fact that the House had been on recess after the 2025 budget passage, Mrs. Meranda was among those in June 2023 endorsed Chief Mudashiru Obasa’s emergence as Speaker of the 10th Assembly amidst political intrigues.
“He is the best man for the job. The experience is there; the capacity is there, the leadership skill is there. I don’t see anybody matching up,” she said.
However, in a twist of fate, Mrs Meranda has now taken over from the man she had deputised and supported, and whom many thought held lawmakers firmly under his control with a cloak of invincibility.
A member of the House, who challenged Chief Obasa to the Speakership position in 2023, Mr Abiodun Tobun explained why Mrs Meranda had to become the new Speaker.
“The Constitution made it clear that the House has the power to regulate its proceedings. So, the members of the House felt they have had enough of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and we have unanimously agreed that Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda Lasbat become the new Speaker of the House,” Tobun explained.
Mrs Meranda’s lineage boasts an intimidating political heritage, tracing back to the prominent royal families of Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto, and Oniru of Lagos.
She is no novice to power play, having served as Chief Whip of the 9th Assembly and Deputy Speaker in the 10th House, all within three terms as a legislator, where she is one of only four women in the 40-member Assembly.
According to a former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuosho, having Mrs. Mojisola Meranda as the first female Speaker of the state assembly is a huge success that will inspire women and girls.
“It opens doors for other women and girls to aspire. It is something that we should all applaud and support her to succeed. We are very happy for her. We are all from Lagos and as we say, mo yo fun e, mo yo fun ra mi. The success of one woman is the success of every woman in Lagos State,” said Mrs Tejuosho.
As a lawmaker representing Apapa Constituency 1 since 2015, Mrs Meranda has promised to operate an open-door policy as Madam Speaker, a departure from her predecessor.