The removal of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly has intensified divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, as party stakeholders remain split over his impeachment.

Recall that Obasa was impeached on January 13, 2025, over allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation, a decision that has fueled tensions within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC)—the highest decision-making body of the APC in the state.

Party Leaders Clash Over Impeachment
Disagreements within the party became evident when Senator Anthony Adefuye and Muraina Taiwo, both GAC members, publicly criticized the impeachment, calling it politically motivated and procedurally flawed.

Adefuye, speaking with Punch, questioned the legality of the process, while Taiwo stated in a WhatsApp message:

“The lawmakers’ action is illegal. It shows total disregard and clear disrespect for leadership.

The GAC is split over the matter, but we will all defer to our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to resolve the crisis.”

However, former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, dismissed their objections as “childish and inconsequential”, urging party leaders to avoid making hasty remarks.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has hinted that Obasa may return to the House as discussions continue on whether to launch a formal probe into the allegations against him.

As the crisis within the APC unfolds, opposition parties in Lagos have signaled their willingness to welcome Obasa if he decides to leave the ruling party.

The Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Benedict Tai, confirmed that the party would consider admitting the former Speaker but emphasized that due diligence would be conducted.

“If we accept him into the PDP, we will implement necessary checks. No one can just join and demand a position; they must have spent years in the party. We need to ensure he isn’t coming to disrupt our structure, as others have in the past,” Tai stated.

He further noted that the PDP sees the APC’s internal crisis as an opportunity to strengthen its influence in the state.

“Their disunity is to our advantage, and if their crisis continues, it will help us regain lost ground. However, we must learn from past mistakes and take strategic steps.”

Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos has expressed its readiness to accept Obasa if his political ambitions align with the party’s vision.

The Chairman of LP in Lagos, Pastor Dayo Ekong, said the party remains open to all but warned that no automatic privileges would be granted.

“If the impeached Speaker chooses to join the Labour Party, he will be welcomed, provided he shares our ideals. However, no one is given an automatic ticket. If he wants to contest, he must go through the primaries and test his popularity.”

Ekong also noted that the 2023 LP governorship candidate remains active in the party, hinting that Obasa’s entry would not disrupt existing structures.

“When the time comes, the party will decide its candidate. Until then, everyone will follow due process.”

With the 2027 elections on the horizon, Obasa’s next political move remains uncertain, but his impeachment has undoubtedly shifted the political dynamics in Lagos.

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has accepted the Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in 133 polling units during the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.

The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, granted the admission following the presentation of the machines by an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official. The tribunal had previously issued a subpoena to INEC on January 9, 2025, at the request of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the petitioners in the case.

The PDP is challenging the election victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, citing alleged over-voting as one of the grounds for their petition. The BVAS machines are crucial evidence in addressing these claims.

After presenting two witnesses, the PDP drew the court’s attention to INEC’s compliance with the subpoena, emphasizing the need for the BVAS machines to support their upcoming evidence regarding over-voting.

An INEC official from the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Department, identified as Anthony Itodo, presented the machines to the tribunal. 1 He informed the court that they had brought 148 BVAS machines used in 133 polling units as per the tribunal’s order.

While the petitioners’ lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, initially noted that the official had mentioned 151 machines, INEC lawyer Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, clarified that only 148 were relevant to the 133 polling units in question.

While INEC did not object to the submission of the devices, the legal teams representing Governor Okpebholo and the APC objected, stating that their reasons for the objection would be presented at a later stage.

The three-member panel subsequently ruled to accept the BVAS machines as evidence in the ongoing election petition.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum on Friday declared that the macro-economic policies of the Federal Government have inflicted hardship and pain on the polity.

The governors noted that no meaningful and impactful achievements in the states will be achieved until the harsh policies are addressed.

The forum, therefore called on the Federal Government to either revisit or rejig its macro-economic policies to ameliorate and or stop the hardship and pains inflicted on Nigerians.

It noted the monumental socio-economic, security, infrastructure and other challenges that confronted the nation during the period.

The forum made the call in a seven-point communique read by its Chairman, and Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed after its first and closed door meeting for the year 2025 held at Government House, Asaba, Delta capital city.

The Communique was signed by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; the host Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta; Douye Diri of Bayelsa; Peter Mba of Enugu; Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom; Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers; Ademola Adeleke of Osun.

Others are Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa; Agbu Kefas of Taraba and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Seyi Makinde of Oyo, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal; and Dr Emmanuel Agbo – DG PDP Governors’ Forum.

They urged Nigerians not to despair but keep hope alive despite the present hardship in the country.

The forum also reviwed the performance of member states in particular, and the state of the nation in general, as well as developments in the party, as at the end of 2024.

It commended governors of member states for pursuing policies and programmes that not only ameliorated the plight of the people but were aimed at creating the foundation for sustainable development in their various states.

It lauded the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) on the position of the National Secretary, and reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment.

It, however, advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.

The forum commended the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and Security Agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country.

However, it viewed with deep concern the resurgence of brazen non-state actors and called for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.

It expressed gratitude to the host Gov. Oborevwori, and the people of Delta for their hospitality and friendly disposition that had yielded the successful, well-structured and impactful meeting.

It also lauded Oborevwori’s giant strides recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructure, environmental remediation, people empowerment and combating insecurity.

“Nigerians do not despair in the face of the prevailing hardships, the PDP will remain committed to returning our great nation to the glorious days of pre-2015 era of manageable costs of living, security of lives and property and greater unity and prosperity for all citizens,” it said.

The Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun was also in attendance.