Lagos, Nigeria – February 15, 2025 – The Lagos State House of Assembly was thrown into chaos yesterday as DSS operatives sealed off the legislative complex, restricting access to key offices, including those of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and the Acting Clerk. The incident, which followed the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has sparked widespread concerns about undue interference in the affairs of the legislature.
Credible reports indicate that early in the morning, lawmakers and Assembly staff arrived at the complex to find security operatives in control of the premises. The legislative chamber itself was locked, preventing legislative activities from taking place. The DSS later released a letter written by the Acting Clerk of the House, requesting security presence at the Assembly. However, lawmakers have insisted that the request was solely for protective measures at the main gate, not for an invasion of the legislative chambers.
In an official statement, Hon. (Otunba) Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, emphasized that no directive was given for the DSS to take such extreme measures. “For the avoidance of doubt, at no point did the letter requesting security assistance instruct the DSS to invade the legislative chamber, lock and restrict access to the Speaker’s office, lock the office of the Acting Clerk, or lock the Deputy Speaker’s office,” the statement read.
The dramatic escalation of security at the Assembly complex has fueled speculations of political maneuvering surrounding the removal of Obasa. The newly appointed Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, has received the backing of the Assembly’s majority, signaling a shift in the House’s leadership dynamics. However, the DSS’s involvement has raised questions about the federal agency’s role in state politics.
Observers note that security agencies have historically been used as instruments of political control in Nigeria, often intervening in legislative and executive disputes. The blockade at the Lagos Assembly follows a series of tense political developments, with insiders suggesting that the abrupt security measures were aimed at preventing opposition to the leadership transition.
Lawmakers have called for an investigation into the DSS’s actions, describing the incident as an infringement on legislative independence. “This act amounts to an infringement on the independence of the legislature and a direct assault on democratic governance,” the statement from the Assembly further noted.
As the controversy unfolds, political analysts and civil society organizations are closely watching how authorities will respond to the calls for accountability. The Lagos Assembly, which plays a crucial role in the governance of Nigeria’s economic hub, faces a test of its autonomy in the wake of the unprecedented security intervention.
