Lagos State assembly members meet with deputy governor as pressure grows to back down on impeachment

LAWMAKERS from the Lagos State House of Assembly have met with members of the cabinet in a bid to end the ongoing impasse between the two arms of government that precipitated calls for the impeachment of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Last week, assembly members debated initiating impeachments proceedings against the governor amid suggestions that he was spending money without recourse to the assembly. In a debate led by Hon Sanai Agunbiade, the majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, it was alleged that the governor was engaged in spending money without getting the approval of legislators.

Hon Agunbiade said Governor Ambode should either resign or be impeached for these infractions. He also accused the governor of not presenting the 2019 budget before the house for approval as is the usual tradition.

However, the development appears to have backfired as it is rumoured that assembly members are unhappy with Governor Ambode because he refused to bankroll their election campaigns. This has been strenuously denied by the members of the assembly and to avoid the situation having wider political implications, the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in the state have opted for mediation.

Yesterday, team of the assembly members led by Hon Agunbiade met the executive team led by the deputy governor Idiat Adebule to look for a solution. Other lawmakers present include Hon Moshood Oshun, Hon Dayo Saka Fafunmi, Hon Lanre Ogunyemi and Hon Mojisola Lasbat Miranda.

One assembly member said: “Our people have met with the deputy governor over the current friction and the meeting is just to find an amicable ground. We know the executive arm actually committed the infractions but for the interest of the state and to keep it safe ahead of the election, we have to look for a soft landing for them.”

It is believed that the outcome of the meeting may be deliberated at a parliamentary session when the lawmakers reconvene next week. It is thought that the assembly will now drop plans to impeach the governor after he publicly declared that he will rather be impeached than use state funds to bankroll their election campaigns.