There are several indications that Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who won the re-election for te sixth time to represent the Agege 1 Constituency, would run for re-election for a third term.
Re-elected ranking Assembly members and first-timers are reportedly planning to challenge Obasa for the position of Speaker.
According to a lawmaker who spoke to Guardian, it is almost probable that Obasa would win the election for the 10th Assembly’s top officers.
The lawmaker said Obasa is currently the most popular and influential among the legislators, adding that the zoning arrangement within the ruling Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might also favour his return.
The source said: “One of the things that could have stood as obstacle to Obasa retaining the position is that majority of the ranking lawmakers, who probably would have had the political strength to compete with him, did not return to the Assembly.
“While some of them lost during the party’s primaries, few others moved up the legislative ladder to represent their areas in the Senate and House of Representatives.”
The publication revealed that the Deputy Speaker would be the only position that would be fiercely contested.
Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, the current Deputy Speaker, was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent Lagos Central.
A former legislative member of staff of the Assembly said: “None of the lawmakers-elect can face Obasa. The only obstacle is if the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has another person in mind to replace Obasa, which I do not think is feasible.”
Since many lawmakers are pleased with the way Obasa has led the State Assembly for the past eight years, he continues to be the front-runner for the speakership.
Ada Peter
