The Lagos State House of Assembly has dismissed rumours of 27 lawmakers defecting from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party (LP), calling the reports false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Ogundipe Olukayode, refuted the claims, emphasizing that the speculation was aimed at sowing discord and confusion within the Assembly and among Lagos residents.
The denial comes amid heightened tensions following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker and the election of Mojisola Meranda, making her the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly.
On Monday, a heavy presence of armed security officers from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) was seen at the Assembly complex. Reports indicate that they allegedly prevented Speaker Meranda from entering the chambers until hours later. When she eventually presided over the plenary session, she became emotional, and lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in her leadership.
While over 36 lawmakers in the 40-member Assembly have pledged loyalty to Speaker Meranda, Obasa has rejected his removal, calling the process illegal and has taken the matter to court.
Despite the internal crisis, the Lagos Assembly maintains that it remains united under the APC.
“These events in no way suggest 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 lawmakers reiterated their commitment to delivering their mandate to the people of Lagos, urging the public to disregard what they described as “falsehood from agents of destabilization.”
While the political situation within the Assembly remains tense, the leadership insists that the tussle does not translate to a mass defection, reaffirming their allegiance to the ruling APC.
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