Obasa presides over Lagos Assembly plenary with four lawmakers, 26 boycotts session

The beleaguered former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, conducted a plenary session today, February 27, 2025, which was attended by four legislators. This session occurred following reports that security personnel had allegedly breached the chamber doors, thereby allowing Obasa and his supporters to enter.

As of 3 PM, the plenary session was still in progress; however, more than 26 lawmakers chose to boycott the proceedings, seemingly to demonstrate their support for the substantive Speaker, Mojisola Meranda. These lawmakers convened in the Assembly’s garden, reiterating their vote of confidence in Meranda from February 17, despite the return of Obasa, which was allegedly facilitated by armed individuals and suspected political thugs. One lawmaker, who requested anonymity, emphasized that the Assembly would not acknowledge Obasa’s leadership, stating, “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.” Additionally, Ayinde Akinsanya from Mushin Constituency I and Noheem Adams from Mushin Constituency II were observed accompanying Obasa as he entered the Assembly complex.

At the time of filing this report, Obasa’s supporters had reportedly broken into the Speaker’s office, while suspected thugs occupied key areas of the complex, issuing threats and vowing to seize all offices.

Access roads leading to the Assembly were also blocked by individuals said to be Obasa’s supporters, who arrived in unmarked buses, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.

Reacting to the situation, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, decried the chaos and called for 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, lamenting that security operatives had prevented him from accessing the complex.