By Atomide Otitoju
The Lagos State House of Assembly has dismissed reports claiming that 27 of its members have defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Labour Party (LP), calling the speculation “false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Ogundipe Olukayode, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, said the rumoured defection was aimed at sowing discord and confusion within the Assembly and across Lagos State.
Leadership Crisis and Security Presence
The denial comes amid a leadership crisis in the state legislature, which escalated on Monday when armed security officers, including personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), reportedly prevented Speaker Mojisola Meranda from entering the chamber for hours.
When she eventually presided over plenary, she became tearful and emotional as lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in her leadership.
The crisis follows the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker and the subsequent election of Meranda, the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly. While over 36 lawmakers in the 40-member House have pledged their support for Meranda, Obasa has rejected his removal and taken legal action to challenge the process.
Assembly Maintains Unity Within APC
The Assembly insisted that the leadership dispute remains an internal matter and dismissed claims that lawmakers were planning to abandon the APC.
“These events in no way suggest any intention by members to leave the party. We emphasise, without any ambiguity, that no member of the Assembly is contemplating defection,” the statement read.
The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to the ruling party’s agenda, stating:
“We were elected under the leadership of the ruling party, which remains united and focused on delivering its mandate to the people of Lagos State. The falsehood being spread originates from agents of destabilisation who seek to create unnecessary tension and division within the Assembly.”
Despite the ongoing power struggle, the Assembly reassured Lagosians of its dedication to governance and legislative duties, urging the public to disregard unverified reports aimed at destabilising the state’s political landscape.
