Amid the unfolding crisis at the Lagos State House of Assembly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has insinuated that the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, may be behind the reported invasion of the state legislative chamber by security forces.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has been embroiled in a contentious crisis since January, when the lawmakers unexpectedly ousted former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and installed Mojisola Meranda as his replacement, creating significant political turmoil within the chamber.
The Lagos State House of Assembly was plunged into a state of pandemonium on Monday, February 17, 2025, as officials from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force stormed the assembly ground sealing off the Speaker’s office, but her colleagues and staff members forced the door open.
Atiku while reacting to the drama took to his official X account to express his strong disapproval of the heavy presence of security personnel on the assembly grounds.
In his statement, “The viral video of armed security operatives invading the Lagos State House of Assembly is utterly reprehensible and stands condemned. It must be subjected to a full and thorough investigation. It is bewildering that the invading operatives reportedly have a mandate to enforce a leadership change in the House.
“It is appalling that it is those who claimed to have fought for democracy that decided to sanction this crass desecration of the state’s foremost legislative body, and by so doing, putting our hard-earned democracy in Jeopardy.
“This act is an attack on the sanctity of democracy and a landmark of indignity to the Nigerian electorate, especially the people of Lagos. Whatever may have caused the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly is an undercurrent that is not abnormal in a system of democracy.
“The purported invitation of armed security operatives for a conflict resolution in a parliament is an anathema that should be frowned upon and interrogated with all sense of urgency. Tinubu should focus on bringing Nigeria out of the mess he plunged the country into rather than interfering in the state matters.”
While the controversy surrounding the incident continues to swirl, the security operatives involved have vehemently refuted claims of an unauthorized intrusion, stating that they were formally invited by the Lagos State House of Assembly to maintain peace and order in the event of an alleged plan to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker.
