When the news of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa’s return as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly broke on Monday 3 March, it sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
His removal from the speakership position on 13 January attracted flurry of reactions and also sparked crisis in the Lagos Assembly.
Obasa was replaced by his former deputy, Mojisola Meranda, as the new Speaker.
He rejected his removal as unconstitutional. He filed a lawsuit against Meranda, the Assembly, and 36 lawmakers, challenging his removal.
Over the years, Obasa has cultivated a strong reputation, commanding respect and fear alike.
Obasa was born on 11 November 1972. He had his primary education at St Thomas Acquinas Primary School, Surulere, Lagos.
He then attended Archbishop Aggey Memorial Secondary school, Mushin, Ilasamaja, Lagos where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate.
He received a bachelor’s degree in law from Lagos State University, Lagos in the year 2006.
His political career took off when he became a councilor in Agege Local Government under the Alliance for Democracy in 1999. He served in this role until 2002.
Obasa secured a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2003, representing Agege Constituency I. He became a member of the Assembly in 2003 and had since then enjoyed re-election and served as member of numerous committees including Committee on Lands and Housing and Physical Planning.
At different times, he served as Chairman of Committee on Rural Development, House Committee on Public Account for Local Government for six years and Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning.
He went on to win re-elections in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in Lagos State politics.
Obasa has served as a lawmaker under four different state governors (Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu) and was Speaker during the tenure of the last two.
In July 2023, Obasa was presented with an honorary citizenship of the state of Georgia at the Georgia Legislative Black Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, for his “service to the state of Georgia” and Nigeria.
From his days at SDP and UNCP to now being a member of the APC, Obasa can be described as an experienced grassroots politici
