{"id":21587,"date":"2026-04-22T07:30:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T07:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/?p=21587"},"modified":"2026-04-22T07:30:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T07:30:36","slug":"tension-rises-as-lagos-deputy-speaker-mojisola-meranda-moves-for-fourth-term-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/tension-rises-as-lagos-deputy-speaker-mojisola-meranda-moves-for-fourth-term-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"Tension Rises as Lagos Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda Moves for Fourth Term Seat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The political atmosphere in Apapa, Lagos, is witnessing heightened tension as growing opposition emerges against a potential fourth-term bid by the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda.<\/p>\n<p>What began as subdued dissatisfaction among constituents has now evolved into a more coordinated and vocal call for political reassessment, with stakeholders urging a shift toward renewal and forward-looking leadership.<\/p>\n<p>At the heart of the debate lies a critical question: at what point does continuity cease to drive progress and instead begin to hinder it?<\/p>\n<p>Across Apapa, political conversations are increasingly shaped by demands for performance, relevance, and measurable impact, rather than long-standing loyalty or familiarity.<\/p>\n<p>According to a publication in Thisday Newspaper of 16th April, 2026, authored by Godiyaye, &#8220;For many residents, the prospect of a fourth term raises concerns about stagnation rather than stability.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sources within the constituency, including an anonymous insider, point to mounting discontent among residents who are questioning the effectiveness of the current leadership and its capacity to deliver tangible results.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Observers note that leadership expectations in Apapa are evolving. Constituents are placing greater emphasis on responsiveness, adaptability, and outcomes. While experience remains valued, prolonged tenure without visible progress is increasingly viewed as counterproductive.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Stakeholders are also advocating for a more inclusive and balanced political framework that better reflects the diversity and aspirations of the constituency. Key areas of concern include grassroots engagement, accessibility of leadership, and equitable representation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There is a growing perception of a disconnect between elected officials and the daily realities faced by residents.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Further, the report stated that, &#8220;Apapa continues to grapple with infrastructural deficits, economic challenges, and calls for more responsive governance, further intensifying demands for visible and proactive leadership.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For many, the issue is no longer the length of time spent in office, but the achievements recorded during that period.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This shift in sentiment reflects a broader political awakening across Lagos, where voters are becoming more intentional, prioritizing effectiveness over incumbency and results over routine governance.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Given Apapa\u2019s economic significance and complex socio-political challenges, analysts argue that the constituency stands at a pivotal moment. There is increasing pressure for leadership that is innovative, adaptive, and aligned with contemporary realities.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Calls for structural realignment have consequently grown louder, with some stakeholders urging current leaders to either evolve or make way for new entrants capable of addressing pressing challenges with urgency.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This has fueled a push for generational transition, with advocates suggesting that the introduction of fresh voices could unlock new approaches to persistent issues such as infrastructure, economic revitalization, and youth inclusion.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As deliberations continue within the Apapa Stakeholders Forum and other civic platforms, a clear message is emerging: the future of Apapa\u2019s representation must be deliberate, inclusive, and geared toward sustainable progress.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The unfolding debate over a fourth-term ambition is thus seen as part of a larger moment of political reflection\u2014one that signals a readiness among constituents to reassess priorities and embrace meaningful change.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Stakeholders maintain that leadership should remain a privilege that is continuously earned through performance, not one assumed through extended tenure.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As Apapa navigates this critical juncture, residents appear united in one expectation: progress must not only be promised\u2014it must be delivered.&#8221;, the report concludes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The political atmosphere in Apapa, Lagos, is witnessing heightened tension as growing opposition emerges against a potential fourth-term bid by<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21587"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21589,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21587\/revisions\/21589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}