The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, has issued a strong warning to aggrieved political actors and groups against dragging his name into the ongoing demonstrations rocking the state following the controversial All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly primaries.
Frowning at what he described as deliberate attempts to frame him as a scapegoat for the post-primary unrest, the Speaker maintained that he has absolutely no hand in the wave of protests. The Speaker's warning follows a massive demonstration on Tuesday, June 9, where disgruntled party members from various local government areas, including Badagry, Mushin, Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Ajeromi, and Oshodi, converged on the APC State Secretariat on ACME Road, Ikeja. The protesters accused party leadership of manipulating the primary election outcomes and demanded immediate transparency.
This latest demonstration is part of a series of coordinated protests that have swept across Lagos since the party chapter released the official list of winning candidates. In the wake of the unrest, viral WhatsApp messages began circulating across the state, alleging that Speaker Obasa had earmarked a staggering ₦2 billion to fund and organize the demonstrations.
Reacting swiftly to the allegations, Obasa debunked the rumors, questioning the logic behind the accusations. “It is foolhardy, malicious, misleading, and baseless for anybody to assume or imply that I will import or mobilise protesters from different local governments to the secretariat. To achieve what exactly?” Obasa asked. “I am not a candidate in the disputed election, so why and how will I devote such an amount of money to organising protests?”
The Speaker emphasized his track record as a disciplined party loyalist, distancing himself from any actions capable of fracturing the ruling party. “I am a peace-loving party man, and I abhor the use of my name and office for any form of illegality or to sow division within the party,” he stated. “My steadfast commitment remains the unity, peace, and progress of our great party and the people of Lagos State.”
