A leadership crisis rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa presided over a plenary session with only four lawmakers present, while a majority of legislators boycotted the sitting in protest.
According to The PUNCH, the session took place after security personnel allegedly broke open the chamber doors, granting Obasa and his supporters access.
By 3 p.m., the plenary was still ongoing, but more than 26 lawmakers remained absent, reaffirming their allegiance to the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Despite Obasa’s controversial return—reportedly facilitated by armed men and political loyalists—dissenting lawmakers gathered at the Assembly’s garden to reiterate their support for Meranda.
One lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, insisted that Obasa’s leadership would not be recognised.
“He was not chosen by his constituency as Speaker. For nearly ten years, we endured his autocratic leadership, and we will not allow it to continue,” the lawmaker asserted.
Among those who accompanied Obasa into the Assembly complex were Ayinde Akinsanya (Mushin Constituency I) and Noheem Adams (Mushin Constituency II).
Reports indicated that Obasa’s loyalists forcefully entered the Speaker’s office while suspected thugs occupied strategic locations within the complex, issuing threats and vowing to take control of all offices.
Access roads leading to the Assembly complex were also blocked by individuals believed to be Obasa’s supporters, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.
Reacting to the turmoil, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, condemned the disorder and called for restraint.
“This is the Lagos State House of Assembly, and what we are witnessing today is deeply troubling. Leadership should engage us in dialogue rather than resorting to such actions,” he stated.
Describing the situation as an embarrassment, Ogundipe also criticised security operatives for preventing him from accessing the legislative complex.
