- Following the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, Mojisola Meranda made history as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly
- The new Speaker visited the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) with fellow Assembly members
- TheRadar compiled 14 facts about the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly below
Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who was sworn in as the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly following the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, visited the Governor's Advisory Council (GAC).
Meranda, who made history as the first female Speaker in the state, was accompanied by fellow Assembly members and met with senior All Progressives Congress (APC) officials at the Lagos House in Marina on Tuesday, January 14.
The visit was said to, “brief them about what happened at the House of Assembly yesterday and to seek their blessings which we have gotten,” according to reports.
Obasa's tenure as Speaker, which spanned a decade, ended after more than two-thirds of the 40-member Assembly voted to impeach him over serious allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement.
In addition to Obasa's removal, the Assembly also suspended the Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko, and elected Mojeed Fatai as Deputy Speaker.
14 facts about Lagos’ first female Speaker
TheRadar compiled 14 facts about the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda below:
1. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, 44 years old was born on August 16, 1980, into the respected Akapo family in Lagos.
2. Meranda hails from a royal lineage, with her late father, Chief Taoreed Lawal-Akapo, serving as the Ojora of Lagos from 1977 to 1993. Her mother, Princess M.A. Lawal-Akapo, also belongs to several distinguished royal families, including the Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto, and Oniru families.
3. Meranda began her education at St. Charles Nursery and Primary School before attending Randle Primary School in Surulere (1986–1992).
4. She later attended Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School (1992–1996) and Ansar-ud-Deen Secondary School (1996–1998).
5. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Lagos State University.
6. Meranda further pursued academic advancement with a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) from the University of Lagos in 2020.
7. Meranda was first elected to the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015. Before her legislative career, she served in various roles within the Apapa local government.
8. She was re-elected in 2019 and 2023, and is one of only four women in the Assembly.
9. In the 8th Assembly, she chaired the House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), as well as the House Committee on Establishment, Training, Pension, and Public Service
10. In the 9th Assembly, Meranda served as the Chief Whip.
11. She was then appointed Deputy Speaker in the 10th Assembly and held that position until her election as Speaker.
12. Meranda represents Apapa Constituency I, a position she has held through her successive terms in the Assembly.
13. Meranda's brother, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, is the Oniru of Iru Land.
14. Following the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025, Meranda was sworn in as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position in the state's history.
Lagos Governorship 2027: How potential contenders have begun the race early
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the race for Lagos Governorship in 2027 started with key contenders from the ruling APC and opposition parties hoping for the seat.
Seyi Tinubu, Mudashiru Obasa, Akinwunmi Ambode and Tokunbo Abiru are being touted as potential candidates for APC.