Following the intrigues and politicking that characterised the Lagos State House of Assembly election, there is a strong indication that the incumbent Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who has won his re-election for the sixth time to represent Agege 1 Constituency, might join the Speakership race for the third term.

Checks by The Guardian showed that none of the lawmakers elect, including the re-elected ranking members and first-timers in the Assembly are willing to throw their hats into the contest against Obasa as Speaker.

A lawmaker, who craved anonymity, said it is almost certain that the election of principal officers of the 10th Assembly would be a kind of walkover for the incumbent Speaker.

He said that it is not just because Obasa is currently the most popular and influential among the legislators, but that the zoning arrangement within the ruling Lagos chapter of the APC also might favour his return in the contest scheduled for June when the election will be held.

“One of the things that could have stood as obstacle to Obasa retaining the position is that majority of the ranking lawmakers, who probably would have had the political strength to compete with him, did not return to the Assembly.

“While some of them lost during the party’s primaries, few others moved up the legislative ladder to represent their areas in the Senate and House of Representatives,” a source stated.

Meanwhile, the only position that is open for serious contest is that of Deputy Speaker.

A former legislative member of staff of the Assembly said: “None of the lawmakers-elect can face Obasa. The only obstacle is if the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has another person in mind to replace Obasa, which I do not think is feasible.”

Peradventure Obasa returned as Speaker, he would be the longest-serving Speaker of House of Assembly and possibly the longest-serving Speaker after Ikuforiji Adeyemi, who served for 10 years.