Security aides assigned to Mojisola Meranda; speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly have been withdrawn fuelling speculations about her pressure on her to resign.
Reports said police officers and other security personnel attached to both the Speaker and the Assembly were removed. The authority behind this withdrawal remains undisclosed, but a source close to Meranda confirmed her increased vulnerability due to the absence of security details.
This development follows a series of events marked by political interventions and leadership disputes within the Assembly. Prominent figures from the All Progressives Congress, APC, including former governors Chief Bisi Akande of Osun State and Aremo Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State, convened with key stakeholders at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina. They were reportedly concerned on how to resolve the ongoing leadership crisis within the Assembly.
Earlier, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, rumours surfaced alleging that Speaker Meranda had resigned from her position. In response, her Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye denied these claims. “I’m in the office. The Speaker is in the office. I don’t know where that is coming from”, said Ajiboye who attributed the rumours to “mischief makers” loyal to the impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, suggesting they were spreading false information to mislead the public and exert pressure on the current leadership.
Despite these denials, the situation remains fluid, with no official confirmation regarding Speaker Meranda’s resignation. The withdrawal of her security aides adds a layer of complexity to the unfolding power dynamics within the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The Assembly has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since the impeachment of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025, over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. Obasa has since challenged his removal, claiming due process was not followed and insisting he remains the legitimate Speaker.
As events continue to develop, stakeholders and observers are closely monitoring the situation, anticipating official statements and resolutions to the ongoing crisis.
Reported by Punch Newspaper.
