The Lagos State House of Assembly descended into turmoil on Monday as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the legislative complex, sealing off the Speaker’s office in an unprecedented act that sparked outrage among lawmakers.
The DSS operatives barred Speaker Mojisola Meranda from accessing her office, prompting a tense standoff as lawmakers struggled to enter the complex amidst heightened security. Despite the chaos, 36 legislators convened in the Assembly chamber, passing a vote of confidence in Meranda while condemning the security crackdown.
Lawmakers fiercely criticized the DSS for what they deemed an illegal overreach, describing the invasion as a direct assault on democracy. Hon. Abiodun Tobun called the incident “an aberration to democracy,” accusing the DSS of undermining the legislature. Similarly, Hon. Sheyi Lawal and Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu questioned the motives behind the intervention, warning it posed a grave threat to the nation’s democratic fabric.
Other lawmakers, including Hon. David Setonji, Hon. Emmanuel Olotu, and Majority Leader Hon. Temitope Adedeji, expressed concern over the DSS’s actions, urging President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to address the matter urgently.
Despite the upheaval, the lawmakers rallied behind Speaker Meranda, passing a unanimous vote of confidence in her leadership. Pressure now mounts on Tinubu and the National Assembly to investigate the incident, which many view as a dangerous attempt to suppress the independence of Lagos State’s legislature.
The Assembly has been adjourned indefinitely, pending the scheduled resumption of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on Tuesday.
Source: Swifteradio.com
