LAGOS —Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Department of State Services (DSS) clashed over the security agency’s presence at the Assembly yesterday. The DSS claimed that its personnel were at the Assembly on the invitation of the House to provide security, while lawmakers argued that the security officers locked the offices of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Clerk, thereby halting legislative activities.
DSS: ‘We Were Invited for Security
In response to the claims by the security agency that they were invited, lawmakers clarified that they were not asked to block access to the chambers or suspend plenary sessions. The acting Clerk of the House, A. Ottun, sent a letter on February 14, 2025, informing the security agencies in Lagos of “credible intelligence” suggesting that the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, was planning to forcibly return to office on February 18, 2025. The letter, titled Urgent: Enhanced Security Measures for LSHA Premises, requested an increased security presence from February 16, 2025, to prevent any disruption.
In response, DSS officials maintained that their actions were taken to fulfill their duty to ensure safety, questioning how their presence could be seen as an invasion.
Lawmakers Condemn DSS Actions as an Undue Interference
Describing the DSS’s actions as a violation of democratic principles, the 36 lawmakers who attended the plenary after staff forced open the chamber doors, expressed their outrage. The masked armed DSS operatives had blocked access to key Assembly offices and prevented lawmakers from entering the building, causing a tense situation that nearly led to chaos.
Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, representing Oshodi/Isolo 1, condemned the DSS actions, stating, “At no point did the letter requesting security assistance instruct the DSS to invade the legislative chamber, lock the Speaker’s office, or restrict access to other important offices.” He called the DSS’s actions a blatant infringement on the independence of the legislature and a direct attack on democratic governance.
How the DSS Sealed the Assembly
On Monday morning, lawmakers and staff arrived at the Assembly to find the DSS in full control of the complex. Security personnel conducted searches and blocked access to the Speaker’s office. Initially, the DSS did not provide an explanation, but rumors spread that it was due to a bomb scare after suspected explosive devices were reportedly found in the chamber.
The legislative chamber was locked down, and lawmakers gathered in the garden opposite the chamber, unable to convene for the planned plenary session. By 12:25 p.m., staff managed to force open the chamber doors, leading to a commotion when lawmakers gained access. During the unrest, lawmaker Olayinka Kazeem collapsed and was rushed to the hospital but was revived.
Speaker Meranda arrived later, visibly upset, but the session began around 12:45 p.m., after the required quorum was reached. Following a motion by Oladipo Ajomale, representing Oshodi 2, the House passed a vote of confidence in Speaker Meranda and adjourned indefinitely, citing suspicions of external interference in the leadership struggle.
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Lawmakers Call for Investigation and Immediate Intervention
At the plenary, the lawmakers condemned the DSS’s actions, calling it a violation of legislative procedure and an attack on democracy. They urged the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the situation and called for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to prevent further escalation.
Several lawmakers, including Stephen Ogundipe, Subur Oluwa, and others, expressed their concerns about the harassment, with Ogundipe stating, “I am calling on the DSS to explain why they stormed the Assembly today. Democracy is being robbed here.”
Former Minister and Civil Rights Group Condemn DSS Actions
Former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd), condemned the DSS’s actions as an abuse of power. He called for the rule of law to prevail in the ongoing political dispute, urging Lagosians to stand up for their rights and protect the state’s political institutions.
The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), through its President, Mr. Alex Omotehinse, also condemned the DSS’s actions, stressing the importance of allowing Speaker Meranda to conduct legislative business without intimidation.
Obasa’s Return and Legal Challenge
Meanwhile, the embattled former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, is set to return today, February 18, after over a month of absence. Obasa, who was removed by 32 members of the House on January 13, 2025, in a controversial move, has challenged his removal in court. He filed a suit at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, seeking an expedited hearing.
Obasa’s return has sparked division among members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) over his removal, with ongoing tensions between his camp and the current Assembly leadership.
