Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, attempted to reclaim his position. Ob
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, attempted to reclaim his position.
Obasa arrived at the Assembly complex before noon, escorted by heavily armed police officers and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, personnel. His sudden appearance threw the Assembly into turmoil, particularly as the incumbent Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, was noticeably absent.
Despite the Assembly being on indefinite recess, it was learned that the doors to the Speaker’s office were forcibly opened in an apparent move to facilitate Obasa’s return.
Adding to the tension, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, had earlier ordered the withdrawal of all security personnel assigned to Speaker Mojisola Meranda, effectively leaving her without official protection.
The turmoil stems from the January 13 removal of Obasa, who was ousted by 32 out of 40 lawmakers. Following his exit, Meranda was elected as the new Speaker.
Despite interventions from President Bola Tinubu, the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, efforts to resolve the leadership dispute have yielded no breakthrough.
With tensions running high, stakeholders are now calling for urgent action to restore order and ensure the safety of Speaker Meranda and the legislative complex.
Meanwhile, not only has Obasa’s security personnel been replaced, he claims he has resumed his position as the parliament leader.
“I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa said.
