The All Progressives Congress has hailed the reinstatement of embattled politician Mudashiru Obasa as speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly as a demonstration of the sophistication of Lagos politics.
The ruling party commended the lawmakers for prioritising collective goals over personal interests.
On Monday, the lawmakers resolved the 49-day speakership crisis that had stalled legislative activities for weeks.
The crisis led to Mr Obasa’s impeachment on January 13 over allegations of abuse of office and misconduct.
Thirty-two out of the 40 lawmakers removed Mr Obasa and replaced him with his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, a move that triggered chaos and division.
The parliament struggled to function effectively, with staff instructed to work remotely for safety amid the crisis.
Following several interventions by the APC, the Governance Advisory Council, and a high-powered committee, with President Bola Tinubu pulling the strings, lawmakers reinstated Mr Obasa as speaker on Monday.
Mr Obasa returned to his position after Ms Meranda resigned as speaker during Monday’s plenary session.
Reacting to the development, Lagos APC spokesman Seye Oladejo described the resolution in a statement on Monday as a victory for democracy.
“We congratulate the people of Lagos, particularly members of the House of Assembly, APC leaders, and party members, for amicably resolving the rift.
“We commend the lawmakers for setting aside personal interests in favour of our collective goals and aspirations,” he said.
He added valuable lessons had been learnt, and the House was now more united and committed to serving the state.
“Ultimately, this is a victory for democracy and highlights the sophistication of Lagos politics, which stands above common standards,” he stated.
He said the dispute aimed to draw public and party attention to internal issues, testing the APC’s conflict resolution mechanism.
“As a truly democratic party, the APC refrained from unnecessary interference in legislative matters, respecting the Assembly’s independence,” he said.
However, he noted that the lawmakers deferred to the party for guidance when the crisis persisted.
“The House officially briefed the party and sought wise counsel just a few days ago,” Mr Oladejo explained.
He stated that 39 of the assembly’s 40 members were APC members, committed to delivering on their mandate.
“The party met with lawmakers and proposed stabilising, sacrificial solutions in the state’s best interest,” he said.
He clarified that the APC’s role was purely advisory, with final decisions resting with the House of Assembly.
Mr Oladejo said the resolution proved opposition parties had celebrated prematurely, calling it “a storm in a teacup.”
(NAN)