Tinubu Plots Obasa’s Return As Speaker; Sanwo Olu, GAC Kick. What Happens Next?

Will the embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly return to his former position as the state’s number three man? That’s the big poser on the lips of close watchers of the politics of the Aquatic state, as the major power brokers are said to have disagreed on whether he should stage a comeback to the exalted office.

From all indications, it seems the state APC apparatchiks are currently digging the trenches, with the former speaker at the middle of their bickering.

On January 13, some lawmakers of the assembly stated a ‘coup’ to remove Obasa while he was far away in the United States of America, USA, and quickly replaced him with Mojisola Meranda, his Deputy, after they accused him of high-handedness and corruption.

But, the ascension of Meranda to the Speakership since Obasa ouster, three weeks ago, three weeks ago has been described by analysts as the thespian bird perching on a rope, because no day has passed without speculations that the former speaker was plotting a return allegedly backed by some powerful forces in the state, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This development is however contrary to earlier reports that President Tinubu was in the know of the impeachment saga, that ousted Obasa from the position he has occupied for over 10 years.

Following Obasa’s removal, some APC leaders in the state had suggested that the action was not without the seal of the president, who they revealed  had already had enough with the former Speaker, particularly his power tussle with Governor Sanwo-olu.

They cited last December meeting the president had with the governor, Obasa and GAC members in his Bourdillon Ikoyi home, where he allegedly tongue lashed the former Speaker for disrespecting Governor Sanwo-Olu during the 2025 Budget presentation to the Assembly, and his avowed ambition to succeed Sanwo-Olu.

The former Speaker was said to have kept the governor waiting for hours, an action criticised by not a few APC leaders, who said Obasa’s behavior hallmarked the tipping point of his power tussle with the state chief executive.

Also Included among those supporting Obasa, and have expressed their disapproval to his impeachment, is the First Lady Remi Tinubu , who sources said chided the lawmakers who removed Obasa. She’s rooting for his return to the position, sources close to the Presidency said on Wednesday.

According to those close to the levers of power in Lagos and Abuja, President Tinubu has directed Governor’s Advisory Group, GAC, the powerful advisory body in the state led by Tajudeen Olusi to ensure that the crisis in the Assembly is resolved amicably, possibly with Obasa’s return to his position.

President Tinubu was said to have conveyed his position to GAC at a meeting held recently in Abuja, attended by all the members of the group, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President including Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is believed to be unsupportive of Obasa regaining his position, amongst others.

Governor Sanwo–Olu has been fingered alongside some other GAC members to have plotted Obasa’s removal even though he had denied having a hand in the former Speaker’s predicament.

Instructively, a few members of GAC are said to have backed the president on the issue after expressing their dissatisfaction with Obasa’s ouster, saying they were not carried along.

The divison in GAC is belived to have further bostered the confidence of Obasa, who after his return from US two weeks ago insisted that he remained Speaker, describing his impeachment to be illegal and bereft of due process.

“My status in the house? I believe strongly 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 on January 25 when journalists asked him whether he had accepted his impeachment.

His position is said to have aligned with the president, who sources said described Obasa’s removal as a ‘coup’ after he was informed of the impeachment.

But the way the issue is turning out, sources say may pit Governor Sanwo-Olu with the president, as the governor is not really comfortable with that arrangement, including some GAC members and lawmakers who belived that the reinstatement of Obasa will lead to serious reprisal against who plotted his fall.

“The issue has become a very sensitive one particularity with the president’s involvement. Governor Sanwo-olu has become the defacto leader of the APC following Obasa’s impeachment, and a seeming peace has returned as nobody is seen to be rocking the boat with him. Tinubu is the overall leader, but as president he needs to attend to many state matters, and because of that power vacuum cannot be allowed in Lagos, that’s why naturally other power brokers see Sanwo-olu as the natural leader because of his position as the governor. If Obasa returns, there would be an upset again, as the former speaker did not accept the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu,” a source said.

He however noted that the governor will not want to be seen to be opposing President Tinubu, considering that they share strong relationship bit the governor also have the support of some strong politicians in the APC, particulalry some members of the powerful GAC whose opinion cannot just be wished away by Tinubu.

“The issue, for the president, is like the devil and the deep blue sea: will he sacrifice the goodwill he has with the governor and GAC to ensure that Obasa returns?

At meeting they held with Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House Marina, this week, the majority of the GAC members, except three were said to have agreed that it will be impossible for Obasa to regain his position based on the current realities, such as the opposition of many lawmakers of the Assembly to the plan, and the suggestions by APC leaders that the apples’ cart will be upset, as the power struggle between the governor and the former speaker is bound to play out again. This will not be good for the party as it prepares for the 2027 general election, according to APC leaders who spoke with the magazine.

Meanwhile, different sources informed The Source that the president can actually have his way if he truly wants Obasa’s back. ‘He’s the overall APC leader in the state and nationally, so his wish on any issue can never be discarded, particularly in Lagos,” one of them said.