The embattled former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, led a plenary session on Thursday with only four lawmakers present.
The session occurred after security personnel allegedly forced open the chamber doors, allowing Obasa and his supporters to enter.
As of 3 pm, the plenary was still in progress, but more than 26 lawmakers boycotted the session, seemingly to show support for the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
The lawmakers, who gathered at the Assembly’s garden, reiterated their vote of confidence in Meranda from February 17, despite Obasa’s return, which was reportedly facilitated by armed forces and suspected political thugs.
A lawmaker, who requested anonymity, emphasized that the Assembly would not recognize 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.
At the time of filing this report, 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.