Politics
PDP, LP Want Suspended Lagos Speaker, Obasa
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.
Delta state Commissioner of Information, Charles Aniagwu, said that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Delta joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) to protect the state’s interest.
Addressing journalists at Government House, Asaba, Aniagwu, said the move was aimed at preserving unity, deepening development, and safeguarding the wellbeing of Deltans.
His words: “The decision was taken to build the bond of love that have existed in our state, to further advance the cause of security and welfare of our people and to a very large extent ensure that development in Delta, because every politics is local, is not truncated.
“And in taking that decision we came to the inevitable conclusion that moving out of the PDP is very very necessary for us to be able to collaborate with our kith and kin and build that state that every Deltan will be proud of.
The commissioner likened the current state of the PDP to palm wine that has lost its taste.
He said: “We believe that what is happening and the state of the PDP is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed and there was a need for us to change the drinking pattern.
“And that is why this decision has been taken unanimously by leaders and stakeholders of the party.
“By the grace of God, Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement after the fact that we are moving into the APC.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma have hailed the defection of Delta state Governor, Sheriff goes and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa into the ruling APC.
Wike gave the commendation in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka in Abuja on Wednesday.
Recall Okowa, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election on Wednesday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okowa decamped alongside Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and other PDP stalwarts in the state, collapsing the entire PDP structures in the state to the APC.
Wike described the development as another endorsement of the president’s good governance and commitment to the development of the country.
He called on other Nigerians, who were still sitting on the fence to throw in their support for Tinubu.
According to him, Okowa and Oborevwori open endorsement of Tinubu is a vindication of the position I took in 2023, which was based on the interest of a united Nigeria.
“I commend Okowa and Gov. Oborevwori for this heart-warming decision, which must have been informed by good governance and commitment of President Bola Tinubu to the oneness and development of Nigeria.
“That is what I have always told people to come out and say, not to be running up and down when they have problems.
“They have come out at the right time to show support for Mr President so that the people of Niger Delta can benefit more from the government, and I commend them for it.
“I am particularly happy that what I saw before the 2023 presidential election, others are now seeing and are joining the “Renewed Hope train,” the minister said.
The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has announced a postponement in date of resumption of plenary sittings from April 29 to May 6, 2025.
The announcement was contained in an internal memo dated April 20, 2025, addressed to all senators and signed by the Senate Clerk, Andrew Ogbonna Nwoba.
The memo is reproduced in extenso hereunder:
“Distinguished Senators,
“I am directed to inform you that the resumption of plenary sittings of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday 29th, April 2025, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 6th May 2025.
“This postponement is made to allow Distinguished Senators, stay with their constituents, during the International Workers’ Day public holiday, in the first week of May, and to further enhance constituency engagements.
“Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to take note of this postponement, while regretting any inconvenience, the change might have caused.”
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