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Summary
Mojisola Meranda Lasbat, Lagos State’s first female Speaker, has resigned. She announced her resignation on March 3, 2025, after discussions with APC leaders. In a swift turn of events, lawmakers unanimously re-elected her as Deputy Speaker. She reaffirmed her commitment to serving Lagos and preserving the integrity of the Assembly.
Mojisola Meranda Lasbat, the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has dropped her official notice of resignation to resolve the leadership crisis that has unsettled the Assembly for nearly two months.
Mojisola, who represents Apapa Constituency I, announced her resignation on Monday, Mar. 3, 2025, during a plenary session at the Lagos State House of Assembly. Her decision came after a meeting with high-ranking members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, who sought to mediate the ongoing political turmoil.
In her official resignation notice posted on social media, Mojisola cited her commitment to preserving the integrity of the Assembly and ensuring its stability.
“I am not a quitter; however, I took the above decision in order to save this legislative institution from further unnecessary conflict and embarrassment,” she stated. “According to and in deference to the dictates of our esteemed political leaders, I have agreed to yet again make a personal sacrifice by stepping down as the Speaker of the House.”
Reflecting on her tenure, she expressed gratitude to her colleagues, acknowledging their solidarity and support during her time as Speaker.
“With your unflinching support, I made history as the first woman to become the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, and I value and cherish the solidarity freely given to me,” she wrote.
Despite stepping down, Mojisola remains in the Assembly as a lawmaker representing Apapa I and was swiftly re-elected as Deputy Speaker — a role she previously held before assuming the Speakership in January 2025.
Mojisola further reaffirmed her commitment to democracy and good governance, emphasising that her resignation was necessary to protect the institution she served.
“We are the representatives of the good people of Lagos State, with the mandate to protect our democracy and ensure good governance,” she wrote. “I know that this is the point at which, as your leader, I have to make this selfless sacrifice to resign in order to protect this institution.”
Meanwhile, women continue to be underrepresented in political positions in Nigeria, holding only 3.9% of seats in parliament as of February 2024, according to UN Women.
