Bouncing Back: The Stories Of Peter Obi, Obasa, And Other Nigerian Politicians Who Won Their Reinstatement

On Monday, Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, became the latest to join this list when he was reinstated during the plenary session.

Obasa had been impeached by lawmakers on January 13, 2025, while he was away on holiday in the United States. His removal, which was based on allegations of authoritarianism and financial mismanagement, led to the election of Mojisola Meranda as the first female Speaker of the Assembly. However, following intense pressure on Meranda and other lawmakers, she stepped down as Speaker, assuming the position of Deputy Speaker, while Obasa was reinstated.

Other notable Nigerian politicians who were impeached and reinstated include:

1. Mudashiru Obasa
   On January 13, 2025, Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, was impeached by a two-thirds majority of House members while he was on a holiday in the United States. The grounds for his impeachment included allegations of financial mismanagement and autocratic leadership. Following his rejection of the impeachment, Obasa sought legal redress in court and was ultimately reinstated.

2. Elvert Ayambem
   Elvert Ayambem, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, was impeached in May 2024 by 17 of the 25 House members over accusations of financial misappropriation. However, after intervention from Governor Bassey Otu, Ayambem was reinstated within the same month.

3. Rashidi Ladoja
   Rashidi Ladoja, the Governor of Oyo State, was impeached on January 12, 2006, by state legislators, leading to the swearing-in of his deputy, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, as the new governor. However, the Appeal Court in Ibadan declared the impeachment null and void on November 1, 2006, a decision that was later upheld by the Supreme Court on November 11, 2006. Ladoja officially resumed office on December 12, 2006.