The Lagos State house of assembly on Monday impeached its speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa and elected in his stead the first speaker of the legislature since 1999, Mrs Mojisola Meranda.
Obasa represents Agege Constituency 1 in the Assembly since 2007 and has been the speaker since 2015.
Meranda, on the other hand, represents Apapa 1 state constituency and was the assembly’s chief whip and recently served as deputy speaker.
Meranda took her oath of office after Obasa’s impeachment during a plenary session.
Taking the oath of office, Meranda said: “I affirm that I will be faithful as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; that I will perform my functions honestly to the best of my ability, faithfully, and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In removing the speaker, the lawmakers alleged multiple financial and statutory violations against Obasa, who was the longest-serving speaker of the state assembly.
The lawmakers also sacked the clerk of the assembly, Mr Olalekan Onafeko.
According Vanguard, Onafeko was said to have been singlehandedly brought to the assembly by Obasa.
Meranda is the first speaker of the Lagos assembly since the birth of the 4th Republic in 1999.
She joins the league of Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba, Ekiti State (2022); Mrs. Titi Oseni-Gomez, Ogun, (2003-2008); Mrs Eucharia Azodo, Anambra (2003); Mrs Chinwe Nwaebili, Anambra (2011); Ms Rita Mmaduagwu Anambra (2015), Mrs Margaret Icheen, Benue (1999-2003); Mrs Monsuratu Sunmonu, Oyo (June 2011); and Jumoke Akindele, Ondo (2014).