Amid swirling rumors of a political shake-up, the Lagos State House of Assembly has firmly denied reports that 27 of its members are defecting from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Labour Party (LP).
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Ogundipe Olukayode, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, dismissed the reports as “false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.”
“The rumours are designed to sow discord and confusion within the Assembly and among the good people of Lagos State,” he stated.
The denial comes amid growing political tension in the state legislature, which has been embroiled in a leadership crisis following the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the election of Mojisola Meranda who is the first female Speaker in the history of the Lagos Assembly.
The crisis took a dramatic turn on Monday when armed security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) were stationed at the Assembly, allegedly blocking Speaker Meranda from gaining entrance. She was reportedly allowed in after hours of waiting.
During plenary, an emotional Meranda fought back tears as lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in her leadership, underscoring the intense power struggle within the Assembly.
With over 36 lawmakers in the 40-member House pledging allegiance to Speaker Meranda, Obasa has refused to back down, insisting that his removal was unlawful. He has since taken the battle to the courts, challenging the legitimacy of the leadership change.
Despite the internal strife, the Assembly maintains that the situation “in no way suggests any intention by members to leave the party.”
“We emphasize, without any ambiguity, that no member of the Assembly is contemplating defection,” the statement read. “The ruling party remains united and focused on delivering its mandate to the people of Lagos State.”
The House leadership further alleged that the defection rumors were being spread by “agents of destabilization” intent on fueling unnecessary tension and division.
