There was chaos at the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, as the Department of State Service invaded the assembly, allegedly on the orders of the clerk.

In the ensuing melee, the lawmakers forcefully gained entry into the hallowed chamber and declared their support for the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

The Governance Advisory Council, the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, has, however, reaffirmed its plans to meet with President Bola Tinubu over the ongoing crisis in the state House of Assembly.

The fresh crisis followed the militarisation of the assembly complex by officials of the DSS on Monday.

The crisis deepened following moves by ousted Speaker Mudashiru Obasa to return to the House.

Obasa, who was removed by the majority of the lawmakers on January 13, 2025, approached the court last week to seek redress.

The lawmaker dragged the Assembly and the new Speaker, Meranda, before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, claiming that the lawmakers were wrong to have removed him when the Assembly was in recess.

In a motion dated February 12, 2025, Obasa, through his counsel led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), sought an order from the court for an accelerated hearing of the suit.

Mudashiru Obasa
The embattled former speaker was in Atlanta, United States of America, for his holiday when the House convened and moved a motion for his removal.

There were speculations that Obasa may likely return to the House on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. However, the House, at its plenary on Monday, adjourned the sitting indefinitely, leaving no room for a possible sitting.

The Monday plenary earlier scheduled for 11 am was delayed till around 12:51 pm, as the DSS operatives sealed the offices of the Speaker and other principal officers of the House.

The assembly chamber was also under restriction, with the lawmakers forcing their way into the chamber after about two hours of being stranded outside the building.

While attempting to enter the chamber, Meranda, who was surrounded by security details and assembly workers, burst into tears amid hailing and a show of solidarity from about 36 lawmakers and the assembly staff.

‘Assembly invited DSS’

Amid allegations of invasion, a top official of the DSS told one of our correspondents that the clerk of the assembly wrote to the service to increase the number of operatives deployed in the complex.

The source, who spoke in confidence because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, said, “Contrary to reports by a section of the media that DSS officers stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing offices of the Speaker and his deputy, it was the Assembly that invited security agents to maintain order.

“The clerk of the assembly wrote to us that there was a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members and requested to increase the number of operatives there and ensure strict access within and outside the assembly.”

It is not clear what line of action was given to the DSS operatives or who gave them, but the actions of the officers prevented the sitting from holding at the scheduled time.

A letter from the Clerk of the House revealed that the assembly indeed invited the operatives to maintain order at the House, following speculations of Obasa’s return.

The letter dated February 14, 2025, showed that the acting clerk of the assembly, A. T. B. Ottun, wrote to the DSS, requesting more presence of operatives at the complex.

According to the letter with reference no: LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323, the DSS was instructed to ensure strict access to the facility from February 15 till further notice.

The letter, titled, “URGENT: ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES FOR LSHA PREMISES,” read: “I wish to bring to your attention a pressing matter that requires immediate action.

“The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on the 18th of February, 2025, as the Speaker, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.

“In light of this situation, we kindly request that you take necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises with effect from Sunday, 16 February 2025, by increasing the presence of your men and as well observe strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises till further notice. We look forward to your prompt attention Sir. Thank you.”

Workers, DSS clash

Following the entry of the lawmakers into the House, DSS officers engaged in a physical confrontation with some assembly workers who were shocked to meet the operatives in the chamber.

The DSS officers, cladded in black jackets, helmets and face masks and armed to the teeth, were resisted by the assembly workers after several minutes of tussle.

New Lagos Assembly speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Shortly after the incident which created tension in the House, Meranda presided over the sitting which began around 12:51 pm. It was the seventh plenary presided over by Meranda since Obasa’s removal, and the latter had been absent from all.

Lawmakers condemn invasion

During the plenary, lawmakers condemned the invasion of the chamber by the DSS after Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 1) raised a motion under Personal Explanation.

The assembly also noted that Kazeem Osho (Mushin 2) was rushed to the hospital for emergency care due to the heightened tension in the chamber.

Joseph called on the President to intervene and ensure that those responsible for the invasion were brought to justice. He also demanded that the Director-General of the DSS be summoned to explain the agency’s actions.

Another lawmaker, Stephen Ogundipe (Oshodi/Isolo 1), decried the incident, describing it as a “rape of democracy.”

Sabur Oluwa (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 2) also condemned the invasion, describing the DSS’ conduct as unnecessary and unprofessional.

He said, “This harassment is completely unwarranted. I’m still shivering. We were elected by the people to protect their interests. If we feel the Speaker is not representing us or the people well, we have the right to elect a new leader. That is democracy. This does not justify harassment or an assault on our legislative process.”

Gbolahan Ogunleye (Ikorodu 1) called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

“I am deeply saddened. I never imagined a day when armed men would storm the Lagos Assembly. I urge the DSS DG to investigate this attack, and I call on President Tinubu to ensure that justice is served. This is a blatant violation of democratic principles.”

Similarly, Femi Saheed (Kosofe 2) described the invasion as a violation of legislative procedures.

“What we witnessed today is an aberration. The Assembly is meant for debates that advance society, not for forceful interventions.

“We must call on the government to clarify whether it has the right to dictate our leadership choices. Today’s incident is a disgrace,” he said.

Despite the chaos, both lawmakers and staff reaffirmed their support for the first female Speaker of the Assembly.

The lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in Meranda’s leadership after which the Speaker adjourned the plenary indefinitely.

DSS invite explained

In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Lagos assembly, Kayode Ogundipe, late Monday, the assembly clarified why it invited the DSS to the House.

It argued that though it invited the security agency, it did not ask the operatives to seal the offices of the principal officers of the House.

DSS officers
Ogundipe stated, “Earlier today (Monday), lawmakers and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly arrived at the Assembly complex to find the offices of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and the Acting Clerk of the House locked and access restricted by operatives of the DSS. Furthermore, the legislative chamber itself was sealed off.

“In an apparent effort to justify their actions, the DSS released to the public a letter written by the Acting Clerk of the House, requesting security presence at the Assembly complex.

“We wish to categorically state that this is not the first time the House has sought security support from the DSS.

“However, it is important to emphasise that in all previous instances, the DSS operatives have been stationed at the main gate of the Assembly complex, ensuring that unauthorised persons do not gain entry.

“For the avoidance of doubt, at no point did the letter requesting security assistance instruct the DSS to invade the legislative chamber, lock and restrict access to the Speaker’s office, lock the office of the Acting Clerk and lock the Deputy Speaker’s office.

“The events of today raise serious concerns about undue interference in legislative affairs. The sanctity of the Lagos State House of Assembly was undermined by armed DSS operatives who actively obstructed lawmakers from performing their constitutional duties.”

GAC distances self

The Chairman of GAC, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, said what happened at the House was not a party or GAC affair.

“Why don’t you talk to those who are involved, those who are there, members of the House of Assembly, the police, the DSS? I have not gotten sufficient information. What’s happening today is not from the party, it’s not from the GAC,” he said.

When quizzed on the speculation that the President was not able to handle the political crisis in Lagos, Olusi said, “Currently, the President is out of the country. Is that not correct? Has he returned? You’re aware that some time ago, the GAC, we were in Abuja to see the President but unfortunately, he has to travel out for an urgent state matter, you’re aware of this? So what happened at the House today is not the affair of the party.

“We as a party or as GAC shall speak at the appropriate time. It’s not that we don’t want to address the press or the public, but we will do that at the appropriate time. What’s happening, we were not part of it. I was not there, representatives of the party were not there, we have not been properly briefed.”

A GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, said the assembly crisis had gone beyond what the council could handle “until Tinubu intervenes.”

He said, “The situation is not yet clear. The DSS said the acting Clerk invited them to guard the house against invasion and the members are saying they were there to prevent them from entering.

“The GAC’s power can no longer contain the crisis because if it does, the directive of the GAC would have been carried out (by the lawmakers).”

He also said he did not believe Obasa was behind the crisis.

“If he (Obasa) was behind the invasion, he would not have gone to court. The matter is already in court, he would allow the court to do its work.

Muraina said he also did not believe Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was having a hand in the crisis.

“In politics, the more you look, the less you see. What are they going to say the governor did wrong? I don’t see anything wrong in the actions of the governor.

“But they’re saying those things so that they will not say the governor is behind them or funding them (the lawmakers).

“There’s no evidence to show he’s supporting them, all is politics.”

An aide to the governor, who asked not to be named, did not respond to inquiries from our correspondent.

‘Obasa not involved’

A source in the Obasa camp who spoke with The PUNCH on Monday evening said Obasa was not behind the DSS invasion of the assembly.

“They (the lawmakers) were the ones who invited the DSS, so how will they link it to Obasa?

“I believe they invited the DSS following reports that Obasa was to return to the House on February 18,” the source simply said.

Meranda denies resignation

The speaker of the House, Meranda, on Monday, denied that she was stepping down as the leader of the assembly.

Rumours on social media had it earlier on Monday that Meranda was due to resign over pressure amid the crisis rocking the assembly.

But in an interview, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Segun Ajiboye, described the rumour as “a lie from the pit of hell.”

Ajiboye said, “It is a lie from the pit of hell. If she had resigned, would she come back to sit at the plenary today?”

Lagos CP replaced

Amid the ongoing crisis, the Police Service Commission replaced the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Lanre Ishola, and appointed Moshood Jimoh as the new CP.

Jimoh was the Force spokesman between January 2017 and January 2019. He was later Deputy Commissioner, Airport Police; Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration; Deputy Commissioner of General Investigation, and Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority, Eastern Ports.

A statement on Monday by the PSC’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, read, “The Police Service Commission today, Monday, February 17, 2025, approved the appointment of Moshood Jimoh as the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command.

“Jimoh, who hails from Kwara State, was a former Force Public Relations Officer and later Deputy Commissioner, Airport Police; Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration and Deputy Commissioner General Investigation.

“CP Jimoh, before his appointment, was Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority, Eastern Ports.

“CP Olohundare Moshod Jimoh is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Public Relations Personality of the Year, in recognition of his sterling qualities and outstanding contribution to the development and use of Public Relations by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations.”

Sanwo-Olu’s details redeployed

It was learnt on Monday that the DSS operatives attached to Sanwo-Olu were replaced by new ones.

A source close to the governor and privy to the development revealed that the security operatives were said to have overstayed in their capacity as security aides to the governor.

The change was linked to the political crisis rocking the state.

It was also gathered that the Director of the DSS in Lagos may be replaced anytime soon.

A source in the DSS, however, said only those who had overstayed in the governor’s security details were redeployed.

As of the press time, The PUNCH could not independently verify if the redeployment had to do with the crisis in the state Assembly.

Atiku, Rhode-Vivour kick

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly as “utterly reprehensible and stands condemned.”

He also blamed the President for interfering in state matters, while calling for a full and thorough investigation.

In a post on his verified X handle, Atiku said the invasion was an attack on the sanctity of democracy and a landmark of indignity to the Nigerian electorate, especially the people of Lagos.

“Whatever may have caused the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly is an undercurrent that is not abnormal in a system of democracy.

“The purported invitation of armed security operatives for a conflict resolution in a parliament is an anathema that should be frowned upon and interrogated with all sense of urgency.

“Tinubu should focus on bringing Nigeria out of the mess he plunged the country into, rather than interfering in the state matters,” Atiku said.

A former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, in an interview on Channels, decried the assembly invasion by the DSS.

“Whoever is behind this should solve this problem in a civilised fashion, because the state Assembly must owe its loyalty to its constituents and not any godfather,” he said.

In a post on his X handle, he wrote, “As far back as 1861, the Lagos elites put everything on the line to fight and agitate for an independent legislative body, because our people have always understood the importance of representative democracy.

“Sadly, not even the military attempted the brazen desecration we witnessed today in our hallowed chamber.

“An open inquiry must be held to establish and bring to justice those behind this attempted coup.

“Lagos cannot be reduced to a Hobbesian state just to appease the narrow, primitive and self-serving interest of an individual, however highly placed,” he added.

PUNCH