After hours of confrontation between workers at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex and security operatives who stormed the legislative chamber, the Speaker of the House, Mojisola Meranda, finally gained access to her office and presided over plenary on Monday.

Assembly workers and lawmakers provided heavy security for the Speaker as she entered the chamber. She eventually presided over the session following a dramatic standoff with security operatives, including police officers and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), who attempted to gain access to the chambers but were resisted by lawmakers and Assembly staff.

Tension was palpable in the chamber as lawmakers chanted in solidarity with Meranda, insisting on her continued tenure as Speaker.

During the standoff, the Assembly complex was heavily fortified with dozens of security personnel and their operational vehicles stationed at strategic points.

Thirty-six pro-Meranda lawmakers in the 40-member House passed a vote of confidence in the new Speaker, asserting that attempts to pressure her into resigning in favour of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, would not succeed.

Meranda became emotional as lawmakers reaffirmed their confidence in her leadership before adjourning plenary indefinitely.

The DSS and the Assembly have since exchanged conflicting statements regarding the presence of DSS operatives at the House. While the DSS claimed its personnel were invited, the Assembly denied making any such request.

Meanwhile, amid the leadership crisis engulfing the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Police Service Commission has approved the appointment of Olohundare Moshood Jimoh as the new Commissioner of Police for Lagos.

Although the police commission did not specify the reason for Jimoh’s deployment, observers have linked it to the protracted leadership tussle within the Assembly.

Obasa was removed as Speaker on Monday, 13 January 2025, after more than two-thirds of the 40-member House voted for his ousting over allegations of misconduct and other offences. His then-deputy, Meranda, was immediately elected as the new Speaker, making history as the first female Speaker in the South-Western state.

A day after her election, Meranda visited members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to brief them on developments in the House and seek their endorsement. She met with GAC members—the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos—at Lagos House, Marina, accompanied by other State Assembly members.

Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency I, ended Obasa’s decade-long tenure as Speaker. Following her emergence, she also met with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to discuss the transition.

Obasa, who represents Agege Constituency I, was first elected to the House in 2007 and had remained in the chamber since. He became Speaker in June 2015 before his removal in January 2025.

On Saturday, 25 January 2025, Obasa insisted that he remained the Speaker until due process was followed. He condemned the militarisation of the Assembly complex during his impeachment and claimed he was removed in his absence while he was out of the country.

However, 32 lawmakers loyal to Meranda maintained that Obasa’s removal was final and that Meranda remained the Speaker.