Mojisola Lasbat Meranda has emerged as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the southwest state.
Meranda’s election followed the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa during the House’s plenary session on Monday.
Before her emergence, she was the deputy speaker of the House. Meranda represents Apapa Constituency I.
The lawmaker took her oath of office on the floor of the House and reaffirmed her commitment to the Assembly.
“I affirm that I will be faithful as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; that I will perform my functions honestly to the best of my ability, faithfully, and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the 44-year-old said while taking her oath of office.
Since its inception in 1979, the Lagos State House of Assembly has produced nine different assemblies.
The most recent one was inaugurated in 2019. However, until Meranda’s election, no female has been elected as the speaker.
Mojeed Fatai was also elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Obasa’s impeachment came after a series of corruption allegations against him. Some months back, he was accused of allegedly spending N17 billion to fix a gate that leads to the Assembly, a claim he denied.