Former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa presided over a Lagos State House of Assembly plenary on Thursday, February 27, with only four lawmakers in attendance, amid an ongoing leadership tussle.
Security operatives allegedly forced open the chamber doors, allowing Obasa and his allies to gain access.
By 3 p.m., the session was still ongoing, but over 26 lawmakers had boycotted it, reaffirming their support for Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
Gathered at the Assembly garden, the lawmakers insisted they would not recognise Obasa’s leadership, calling his return illegitimate.
“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,” a lawmaker, who spoke anonymously, stated.
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Meanwhile, Ayinde Akinsanya (Mushin Constituency I) and Noheem Adams (Mushin Constituency II) were seen accompanying Obasa into the complex.
Reports indicate that his supporters forcibly broke into the Speaker’s office, while suspected thugs occupied key areas, issuing threats and vowing to seize all offices.
Access roads leading to the Assembly were also blocked by individuals believed to be Obasa’s supporters, who arrived in unmarked buses, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.
Reacting to the situation, Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, condemned the chaos and urged calm.
“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 said.
He described the incident as an embarrassment, adding that security operatives had prevented him from entering the complex.