The embattled former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, presided over a plenary session on Thursday with only four lawmakers in attendance.
The session took place after security operatives allegedly forced open the chamber doors, granting Obasa and his loyalists access.
As of 3 pm, the plenary was ongoing, but over 26 lawmakers boycotted the session in what appeared to be a show of support for the substantive Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
The lawmakers, gathered at the Assembly’s garden, reaffirmed their February 17 vote of confidence in Meranda, despite Obasa’s return, which was reportedly aided by armed men and suspected political thugs.
A lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, insisted that the Assembly would not recognise Obasa’s leadership.
“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,” the lawmaker declared.
Meanwhile, Ayinde Akinsanya (Mushin Constituency I) and Noheem Adams (Mushin Constituency II) were among those seen accompanying Obasa into the Assembly complex.
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.
