As of Thursday morning, police officers and other security details assigned to the Speaker were reportedly pulled back, leaving her without official protection.
All security aides attached to Speaker Mojisola Meranda of the Lagos State House of Assembly have been withdrawn, raising concerns about her safety amid an ongoing leadership crisis.
As of Thursday morning, police officers and other security details assigned to the Speaker were reportedly pulled back, leaving her without official protection.
Meanwhile, the report added that security details attached to the impeached Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, had been restored amid the leadership crisis in the Assembly.
The PUNCH reports that a source close to Meranda confirmed the development, stating, “All the Speaker’s security aides have been withdrawn. The House of Assembly’s security details have also been withdrawn, leaving her vulnerable.”
Meranda’s spokesperson, Ganzallo Victor, also confirmed the withdrawal, saying, “We don’t know why the authorities have done that, but all the police officers and other security details attached to her have been withdrawn. She’s on her own at the moment.”
In a dramatic legal twist, the National Industrial Court in Lagos recently sacked the acting clerk of the House, Ottun Babatunde, who was appointed by Speaker Mojisola Meranda and ordered Olalekan Onafeko’s reinstatement.
Onafeko was the clerk of the House before January 13 when Obasa was removed as Speaker.
The court ruling followed a suit (NICN/LA/23/2025) in which the claimant sought an interim injunction preventing the appointment of anyone else as Clerk.
The development has intensified the power struggle within the Lagos Assembly, raising concerns about legislative stability and compliance with judicial directives.
However, the development comes amid speculation that Meranda may be pressured to resign following interventions by top All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, including former governors Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba. The duo led a mediation panel that met with key stakeholders at the Lagos Governor’s Lodge in Marina.
Sources within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) revealed that the panel is recommending a leadership transition, suggesting that both Obasa and Meranda step down to allow a new lawmaker from Lagos West to take over as Speaker.
Earlier, SahadaReporters reported that the Lagos State House of Assembly strongly condemned the presence of Onafeko within the Assembly premises, calling it an unauthorised entry.
It also described it as a violation of legislative protocols.
The Assembly’s Chief Security Officer, Mr. Kabir Kushoro, in a statement on Wednesday, described Onafeko’s actions as a clear disregard for security regulations.
SAHARA REPORTERS
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