The Lagos State House of Assembly has dismissed as false rumours suggesting that 27 of its members were set to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the opposition Labour Party.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Ogundipe Olukayode, refuted the claims, calling the reports misleading and untrue. “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,” Olukayode said.
He further stressed that the lawmakers, who were elected under the leadership of the ruling party, remain united and focused on delivering their mandate to the people of Lagos State. He added that the false claims were being propagated by agents of destabilisation aiming to create division within the Assembly. “The ruling party remains united and focused on delivering its mandate to the people of Lagos State,” the statement continued.
The Assembly also addressed the rumoured shift of APC members to LP, clarifying that the defection reports were aimed at sowing discord and confusion both within the Assembly and among the people of Lagos State.
Earlier this week, DAILY POST reported that armed security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) had been deployed to the Assembly. Their presence was reportedly intended to prevent newly elected Speaker Mojisola Meranda from gaining access to the chamber. Meranda was visibly emotional when she eventually presided over the plenary session, where lawmakers loyal to her passed a vote of confidence in her leadership.
The state legislature has been embroiled in a leadership crisis following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker and the election of Meranda. Obasa has contested his removal, claiming the process was not followed properly, and has taken the matter to court. Despite the ongoing crisis, the Lagos Assembly has insisted there is no external involvement in the leadership dispute.
