The ongoing political standoff in the Lagos State House of Assembly took another turn on Thursday after the police reinstated the security details of Speaker Mojisola Meranda. The move came after her security was withdrawn earlier in the day, sparking fears of heightened tensions surrounding the House’s leadership battle.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, addressed the situation hours after the withdrawal, explaining that it was part of a routine personnel audit. “The audit of police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed, and the officers have been returned to her for her protection,” Jimoh stated during a briefing in the evening. He reassured the public that the audit had been ongoing for several days, affecting a number of prominent individuals, and clarified that it was not directed at any specific person or political figure.
Despite the commissioner’s explanation, the timing of the withdrawal, amidst the already volatile leadership tussle, raised questions and further fueled the crisis in the Lagos Assembly. Meranda had recently taken over as the speaker after Mudashiru Obasa, the previous holder of the position, was accused of misconduct.
On Thursday, Obasa, accompanied by a group of supporters, made a dramatic return to the Assembly, asserting that he was still the legitimate speaker. “I’ve never been removed. Impeachment is a democratic and constitutional process, but it must follow the due procedure,” he declared, addressing reporters outside the Assembly. His supporters rallied around him, chanting slogans in his favor, reaffirming their loyalty to the Agege I constituency lawmaker.
Obasa’s return and defiant stance were met with resistance from Meranda’s loyalists, who continue to support her leadership, claiming she remains the duly elected speaker. This clash of loyalties has only intensified the already strained situation in the Assembly, which reached a boiling point on February 17 when security agents and legislative workers clashed. In a show of solidarity with Meranda, 36 lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in her leadership shortly after the altercation.
The reinstatement of Meranda’s security and Obasa’s public claim to the speakership signal that the Lagos Assembly crisis is far from resolution. The battle for control of the Assembly continues to unfold, and with both sides asserting their claims, the future of the House remains uncertain.
