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NEW TWIST IN LAGOS ASSEMBLY AS POLICE RESTORES OBASA’S SECURITY DETAILS, WITHDRAWS MERANDA’S ESCORTS
Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa who was impeached as speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, is set to return.
His security details have been restored just as those of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, have been withdrawn.
Meranda was Obasa’s deputy before the impeachment. After his removal, the house unanimously elected Meranda, making her the first female to occupy the position in the history of the state.
Though she’s yet to officially resign as the Speaker of the House, her fate was reportedly sealed over the weekend by key All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders who intervened in the crisis rocking the House of Assembly.
Former National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Muiz Banire and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and some of the lawmakers had met over the weekend to find a resolution to the crisis.
It was at the meeting that the fate of Meranda was sealed as she was reportedly asked to vacate her seat.
There are indications that Obasa might return as the Speaker as following the resolutions reached by the leaders which largely favoured Obasa’s return.
“In truth, what they said was that Obasa’s removal was illegal and the lawmakers were directed at the meeting to go and return him,” sources familiar with the matter had said.
It was not clear yet when the House would reconvene to effect the expected changes.
Meranda had adjourned plenary indefinitely two weeks ago when there was commotion in the assembly as a result of invasion by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a surprising development, all police escorts assigned to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, as well as those securing the Assembly complex, have also been withdrawn with immediate effect, leaving both the Speaker and the legislative building vulnerable.
Confirming the situation, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed deep concern over the abrupt withdrawal of security personnel.
“As we speak, all security has been withdrawn from the Speaker, and she is now on her own,” Ganzallo stated.
He warned that the Speaker is now “vulnerable and open to attack,” emphasizing the urgent need for a resolution to the security lapse.
The reason for the withdrawal remains unclear, and there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command or the state government regarding the development.
This situation raises concerns about the safety of government officials and the security of the Lagos Assembly premises.
