Speaker Mojisola Meranda Finally Presides After Drama at Lagos State Assembly
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Lagos, Nigeria – After hours of tension and a standoff between lawmakers and security officials who invaded the Lagos State House of Assembly, Speaker Mojisola Meranda finally gained access to her office on Monday and presided over plenary, following a dramatic face-off.
Workers and lawmakers at the Assembly heavily guarded Meranda as she entered the chamber, where a tense situation had unfolded. Armed policemen and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) had attempted to access the Assembly chambers but were met with resistance from some lawmakers and staff, further escalating the standoff.
As the face-off continued, security vans and personnel militarized the premises, with dozens of security officials stationed outside. Inside, a solidarity chant from pro-Meranda lawmakers, who insisted she remain the Speaker, reverberated throughout the chamber.
Lawmakers Rally Behind Meranda, Vote of Confidence Passed
Despite the tension, 36 out of the 40 lawmakers in the Assembly backed Meranda and passed a vote of confidence in her leadership. Emotional and visibly moved by the support, Meranda adjourned the plenary indefinitely after the vote.
The DSS and the Assembly have since engaged in a war of words over the deployment of DSS operatives at the Assembly. While the DSS claims their officers were invited, the Assembly has vehemently denied making such a request.
Security Appointment Linked to Assembly Crisis
Meanwhile, amidst the leadership crisis, the Police Service Commission has appointed Olohundare Moshood Jimoh as the new Commissioner of Police for Lagos State. Although the commission has not provided reasons for the sudden deployment, many observers believe the move is connected to the ongoing leadership tussle in the state Assembly.
Background to the Crisis
The crisis began on January 13, 2025, when Mudashiru Obasa was removed from his position as Speaker of the Lagos Assembly following a vote by more than two-thirds of the 40-member House, due to alleged misconduct and other offenses. His deputy, Meranda, was immediately elected as the new Speaker, becoming the first female to lead the legislative body in Lagos.
Despite her ascension to the role, Obasa has remained defiant, claiming his removal was illegal and calling the process a militarization of the Assembly. He also claimed that the vote to remove him took place while he was out of the country.
However, 32 pro-Meranda lawmakers have insisted that the removal was final, backing Meranda’s leadership, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) offering their support.
With the leadership crisis continuing to unfold, the eyes of both Lagos residents and the nation are firmly fixed on how the situation will resolve in the coming days.
