In a shocking turn of events, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, the embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, presided over a plenary session on Thursday with only four lawmakers in attendance.
Security operatives allegedly forced open the chamber doors, granting Obasa and his loyalists access to the Assembly complex.
Persecondnews reports that Obasa was accompanied by Mr. Ayinde Akinsanya and Mr. Noheem Adams, representatives of Mushin Constituency I and II, respectively, as he entered the complex.
Meanwhile, more than 36 lawmakers boycotted the plenary session which began at 3 pm in a show of solidarity with Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
The lawmakers gathered in the Assembly’s garden, where they reaffirmed their vote of confidence in Meranda’s leadership, demonstrating their unwavering support for her as Speaker.
A lawmaker, who chose to remain anonymous, said the Assembly would not acknowledge Obasa’s leadership.
He said: “He was not elected as Speaker by his constituency. For nearly a decade, we endured his authoritarian style of leadership. Enough is enough, and we are not backing down.”
As of the time of this report, Obasa’s supporters had allegedly forced their way into the Speaker’s office.
Suspected thugs took control of strategic areas within the complex, intimidating others and openly declaring their intention to overrun all offices.
The thugs who arrived in unmarked buses blocked access roads to the Assembly, forcing motorists to take alternative routes.
Reacting to the situation, Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, strongly condemned the chaos and urged all parties to remain calm.
He said: “This is the Lagos State House of Assembly, and what we are witnessing today is shocking.
“If there are issues, leadership should address us directly, not resort to this kind of display.”
He condemned the incident as a complete embarrassment, expressing frustration that security personnel had denied him entry to the complex, effectively blocking him from performing his duties.
The Assembly has been plagued by a leadership crisis since Obasa’s removal as Speaker on January 13, 2025, and the subsequent election of Meranda.
Obasa faced serious allegations from lawmakers, including poor leadership style, frequent lateness, high-handedness, disregard for colleagues and the executive, abuse of office, intimidation, oppression, and misappropriation.
In an effort to resolve the crisis, influential All Progressives Congress (APC) members, including former governors Chief Bisi Akande, Mr. Segun Osoba, and Dr. Akinwunmi Ambode, met with key stakeholders and assembly members last weekend, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
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