Confusion has engulfed the Lagos State House of Assembly as Mudashiru Obasa, the ousted Speaker, stormed the complex on Thursday, allegedly intending to resume duty.
According to sources, Obasa arrived at the Assembly around 11:30 AM, accompanied by heavily armed police officers and civil defence personnel. The development has thrown the Assembly into disarray, especially as the incumbent Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, was reportedly absent from the scene.
Although the House is currently on an indefinite recess, reports indicate that the doors to the Speaker’s office have been forcibly opened.
Vanguard had reported how the Inspector General of Police, IGP, had ordered the withdrawal of all security details assigned to Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
The development, which comes amid a leadership tussle within the Assembly, has left the Speaker vulnerable to potential attacks.
An aide to the Speaker, speaking in confidence to Vanguard, confirmed that security personnel, including police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), were withdrawn on Thursday morning without any replacement.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn. This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” the aide disclosed.
The aide further appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.
The crisis escalated further on Wednesday, when Olalekan Onafeko, the former and suspended Clerk of the House, attempted to resume duty at the Assembly complex. However, he was politely turned away by security personnel.
Onafeko, who was removed alongside former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, allegedly arrived at the complex around 9 a.m., accompanied by his lawyer, two security personnel, and unidentified DSS operatives, in an attempt to reclaim his office.
“He, the suspended clerk, was politely told by the lawyer of the State Assembly to leave the complex peacefully as the matter is already in court,” an eyewitness revealed.
A viral video captured Assembly staff booing and jeering at Onafeko, chanting unfavorable slogans as he was escorted out of the premises.
In response to the incident, the management of the Lagos State House of Assembly, through a statement signed by Chief Security Officer Kushoro Idowu, condemned the development.
The crisis stems from the January 13 removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who was ousted by 32 out of 40 members of the Assembly. Following his removal, Mojisola Meranda was elected as the substantive Speaker.
Despite interventions from President Bola Tinubu, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Governor Sanwo-Olu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), efforts to resolve the leadership dispute have so far yielded no positive results.
As tensions continue to rise, stakeholders are calling for immediate action to restore order and ensure the safety of Speaker Meranda and the Assembly complex.
