Even in the midst of confusion created on Thursday, February 27, 2025 following the withdrawal of security personnel from Speaker Mojisola Meranda, 36 of the 40 legislators of the Lagos State House of Assembly have insisted on their support for Speaker Meranda.
Former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa had on Thursday, aided by armed security men stormed the Assembly and forcefully took over the office of the Speaker even as the lawmakers gathered at the Assembly premises, insisting on their February 17, vote of confidence in Meranda.
A lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, 36 of them remain committed to Obasa’s removal, stressing that Obasa cannot claim to be elected as Speaker by his constituency.
According to the lawmaker; “We endured his master-slave leadership for nearly a decade. Now, we have had enough, and we are not backing down”.
However, two of the members of the Lagos State Assembly, namely Hon Ayinde Akinsanya (Mushin Constituency I) and Noheem Adams (Mushin Constituency II), accompanied Obasa to the Assembly complex.
As soon as Obasa and his handful of loyalists entered the Assembly premises, the went straight to the Speaker’s office and forced themselves into the waiting room and from there into the main office of the Speaker while armed thugs reportedly occupied strategic areas of the complex.
This was as armed miscreants were heard shouting and threatening that they would seize all offices in the Assembly.
This was as all entry and exit roads to the Assembly were blocked allegedly by supporters of Obasa, who arrived in unmarked Kombi buses thereby forced motorists to take alternative routes.
Commenting on the development, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Hon Stephen Ogundipe, condemned the situation.
Ogundipe said; “This is Lagos, the State House of Assembly. We are shocked by what is happening today. If there is an issue, leadership should address us directly, not subject us to this charade”.
Describing how security operatives prevented him from entering the Assembly, Ogundipe said the disruption was unnecessary and an embarrassment, saying; “We reject Obasa in totality”.
While addressing the media, Obasa declared that he remains the Speaker and denied being impeached.
According to him; “I was on vacation, and I am back, which means the House is in session. There is nothing like impeachment. Any attempt to remove me must follow due process.
“I hold no grudges against my colleagues. The All Progressives Congress (APC) remains a united party. Obasa is the Speaker,” he insisted.
