Lagos APC Leaders Deny Knowledge of Tobun’s Speakership Aspiration

One of Lagos APC Leaders, Abiodun Tobun, the lawmaker representing Epe I in the Lagos Assembly, has not yet informed them of his intention to challenge Mudashiru Obasa, the current Speaker, for the position of the 10th Lagos Assembly, according to prominent leaders of the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bashorun Olorunfunmi and Kaoli Olusanya.

The two, who are also GAC members, admitted to the public that they followed the news on social media just like every other resident of the state.

They denied knowledge of any discussions on how to help Tobun unseat Obasa as a Speaker. Their responses follow a social media article with the headline: “Speakership crisis rocks Lagos Assembly as Abiodun Tobun leads race.”

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According to the report, Lagos APC Leaders have decided to prevent Obasa from seeking reelection a third time. The leaders, notably Tajudeen Olusi, the head of the GAC, were believed to have met after the elections and decided that the next Speaker needed to be a native of the region.

According to the source, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was not in favour of Obasa’s attempt for a third term because of the party’s mood and his tacit criticism of the president’s attitude.

As one of the party’s leaders in Lagos East, where Tobun comes from, Olorunfunmi stated: “I haven’t been told anything, and the party hasn’t yet discussed something similar. Tobun himself said nothing to me.

Olusanya added that Tobun’s desire to become a speaker had not yet been disclosed to him. He claimed that because the legislative branch is an independent entity, lawmakers have the free will to choose who leads them.

However, he asked the lawmakers to carefully consider their options before making any decisions, especially with the party leadership, noting that “that’s the beauty of Lagos APC democracy and its internal mechanism of handling issues.”

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Governor Sanwo-Olu is an insightful democrat who understands the concept of the separation of powers and the independence of the legislative branch of government, according to the governor’s spokesperson, Gboyega Akosile. He will never interfere with lawmakers’ business.

“The governor has always had a cordial relationship with the Assembly and he (Sanwo-Olu) has no issue with Obasa and therefore would not have instigated any uprising in the Assembly,” said Akosile, who called the author of the stated report intentionally “mischievous.”

Lagos APC Leader, Seye Oladejo also asked the public to disregard whatever rumours they may have heard regarding the election of the 10th Assembly’s leadership.

“APC has a reliable internal system to deal with problems, and this will not be an exception,” he asserted. When the time is right, the necessary work will be completed, and Lagos’ residents will be aware of the next Speaker.

He added that the legislative branch is an autonomous entity with the power to choose its leaders.