Amid a deepening leadership crisis, the Lagos State House of Assembly was placed under heavy security on Monday, February 17, 2025, as lawmakers convened for a plenary session. Security vans and personnel were seen both inside and outside the Assembly complex in Alausa.
Security agents were positioned along the roads leading to the complex in anticipation of the plenary session. A minor disruption occurred when some security personnel attempted to enter the Assembly chambers, causing a delay to the start of the plenary.
According to a Lagos Assembly official, who spoke with Channels Television, Speaker Mojisola Meranda and 32 other members were present for the day’s session. The agenda of the plenary was not immediately clear, though members were seen in discussions.
Sources indicated that the House leadership remains stable, but actions by workers suggested that Meranda may be facing pressure to resign or could be impeached.
Assembly workers were observed rallying around Mojisola, expressing their support for her to remain as Speaker.
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| Speaker Mojisola Meranda |
It would be recalled that the previous month saw the removal of Mudashiru Obasa, the long-term speaker, due to allegations of fraud and other charges. Mojisola was then elected as Obasa’s replacement, making her the first female speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Tensions remain high following Obasa’s vow to reclaim his position. In response, Meranda ordered heightened vigilance and requested a rotation of security operatives stationed at the premises.
“The Constitution makes it clear that the House has the powers to regulate its proceedings. So, the members of the House felt that they’ve had enough of the Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa and today, we have unanimously agreed that Rt Hon Mojisola Meranda Lasbat becomes the new Speaker of the House,” a member of the Assembly representing Epe Constituency 1 Abiodun Tobun said in defence of Obasa’s impeachment.
Tobun argued that the lawmakers “owe Lagos State a duty of ensuring that the sanctity of the House and the integrity of this House are restored”.
However, Obasa who was away during his removal, however, insisted he was still the Lagos Assembly speaker.
The former speaker, who represents the Agege constituency, dismissed fraud allegations against him which he labelled as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
“My status in the house? I believe strongly I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done,” the lawmaker said in a press conference organised at his Ikeja home in Lagos.
“If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it. “I’m a Muslim and I believe in fate. But let’s do it the way it should be done.”
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| Mudashiru Obasa denies allegation of corruption and fraud leveled against him |
Many claimed his governorship ambition fuelled his removal, Obasa said there was nothing wrong with nursing that goal.
Weeks after his removal, Obasa dragged the Assembly and Meranda before the Lagos State High Court challenging his sack as the speaker of the House.
He asked the court to declare that his removal by his colleagues was unlawful owing since the Assembly was on break.
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