The leadership tussle in the Lagos State House of Assembly escalated on Thursday as the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, forcefully re-entered the Speaker’s office, Vanguard reports.
Obasa, who was ousted on January 13, arrived at the Assembly complex around noon, accompanied by armed security personnel.
His return coincided with the withdrawal of all security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, reportedly on the orders of the Inspector General of Police.
Speaking to journalists after his controversial return, Obasa declared, “I’ve resumed and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly.”
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that security personnel, including police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), were withdrawn on Thursday morning without any replacement.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we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.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 deepened when Olalekan Onafeko, the suspended Clerk of the House, attempted to reclaim his position on Wednesday but was turned away by security personnel. A viral video showed Assembly staff booing him as he left 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.
Update: Mudashiru Obasa storms the assembly complex and breaks into speakers office
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I’m Back To Office As Lagos Assembly Speaker – Obasa Declares
MEANWHILE The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had earlier, announced his official return as he assumes the position of Speaker of the Assembly, today February 27.
Obasa stated this after returning to the Assembly for the first time since after his impeachment on January 13.
“I’ve resumed and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa said after storming the Assembly complex on Thursday morning with Police and State Security Service operatives as escorts.
Obasa was impeached on January 13 by an overwhelming majority of Lagos State lawmakers and was replaced with Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who became the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly.