Meranda resigns as Lagos assembly speaker after 49 days in office

Mojisola Meranda, speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, has resigned from her position just 49 days after assuming office.

Meranda resigned after a meeting with Mudashiru Obasa, the embattled former speaker, Cornelius Ojelabi, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos; and Lawal Pedro, the attorney-general of Lagos state.

Announcing her decision, Meranda said she was stepping down to uphold the integrity of the legislature.

She added that she remains committed to serving her constituency, Apapa 1, and described her brief tenure as historic, having being the first female speaker of the Lagos assembly.

“I will never stray from the well-established path of honour and dignity exemplified by my late father, the past Ojora of Lagos,” Meranda said.

“It is with full awareness of my resolve that I announce my decision to resign as speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, effective March 3, 2025.

“This decision was not made lightly; it came after careful deliberation, fully aware of the intrigues surrounding my election as speaker. We are the representatives of the good people of Lagos, entrusted with a mandate to protect our democracy.

“I have chosen to resign to uphold the integrity of this institution. I made history as the first female speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly and deeply cherished the solidarity freely offered to me during my tenure.

“I am sincerely grateful to each of you for your unwavering support throughout my brief time in office. As I step down from the position of speaker, I remain committed to serving the people of Apapa 1 constituency.

“I am not a quitter; I have taken this step to avoid further unnecessary conflict and embarrassment.

“The party’s decision is supreme, and at this juncture, I take a bow as speaker. Thank you all.”

She was subsequently re-elected as deputy speaker of the assembly.