A day after her election as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda on Tuesday paid a visit to members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).
The visit, which took place at Lagos House, Marina, was to brief the council about recent developments in the Assembly and seek their blessings.
Meranda, representing Apapa Constituency I, was accompanied by other lawmakers during the meeting with the GAC, the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.
Her emergence as Speaker on Monday marked a historic milestone following the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, who had held the position for a decade.
Obasa’s removal was orchestrated by over two-thirds of the 40-member Assembly over allegations of misconduct and other offenses.
Speaking on her new role, Meranda expressed gratitude for the support of her colleagues and stakeholders, pledging to uphold the principles of good governance and legislative integrity in Lagos State.
Mudashiru Obasa, representing Agege Constituency I, had been a member of the Assembly since 2007 and Speaker since June 2015.
However, his tenure was abruptly terminated after lawmakers unanimously agreed on his impeachment during a plenary session.
Abiodun Tobun, a member representing Epe Constituency I, disclosed that the decision was driven by the need to uphold the “sanctity” and “integrity” of the legislative chamber.
“The Constitution makes it clear that the House has the powers to regulate its proceedings,” Tobun told reporters. “The members felt they’ve had enough of Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa. Today, we unanimously agreed that Rt Hon Mojisola Meranda Lasbat becomes the new Speaker. We owe our constituents and Lagos State a duty to ensure the sanctity and integrity of this House are restored.”
Meranda’s leadership promises to usher in a new era for the Lagos State House of Assembly, with many stakeholders expressing optimism about her ability to lead effectively.
Her historic election as the first female Speaker in the South-West state underscores the growing role of women in leadership positions across Nigeria.
As the new Speaker, Meranda is expected to navigate critical legislative matters while fostering unity and progress within the Assembly and the state.