- Speaker Mojisola Meranda denied claims of her resignation and confirmed she was still in office
- Mudashiru Obasa rejected reports linking him to the alleged discovery of firearms in his former office
- The Lagos State House of Assembly debunked rumours about mass defections to the Labour Party, calling the reports false
Amidst political tensions in the Lagos State House of Assembly, the current Speaker of the House, Mojisola Meranda, has denied rumours circulating online that she has resigned.
An unverified letter, claiming to be from Meranda, had been circulating on social media for days, suggesting her resignation.
However, Meranda’s aide, Ajiboye, debunked the rumour on Wednesday, February 19, stating, “I’m in the office. The Speaker is in the office. I don’t know where that (resignation report) is coming from.”
Mudashiru Obasa denies firearms stockpiling allegations
In a related development, the ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, denied reports on Wednesday linking him to the alleged stockpiling of firearms at his former office.
This came amid claims that 47 pump-action guns had been discovered by officials from the Department of State Services (DSS) during a visit to the assembly on Monday.
Some reports claimed the firearms were found in Obasa’s office, while others suggested they were located in the former Chief Security Officer’s office.
In a statement issued by his aide and signed by Obasa, the former Speaker dismissed the reports as “fabricated,” referring to them as a “concoction.”
Obasa’s statement was titled Re: “DSS Uncovers Arms Cache In Obasa’s Office Day After Lagos Assembly Drama.”
He said, “The ill-conceived story, apart from being a complete concoction, clearly exposes its author and paymasters as maliciously of low intelligence quotient, only out to malign my hard-earned reputation spanning decades of political leadership and legislative hard work.
“From the foregoing, it is obviously discerning that my traducers are furtively attempting to call a dog a bad name just to hang it.
“I consider their purported sudden discovery of ‘cache of arms ammunition in the Speaker’s Office as nothing but an afterthought, having sensed the futility of their illegal actions,” Obasa added.
Lagos Assembly debunks claims of mass defections
Additionally, the Lagos State House of Assembly stated on Wednesday denying reports of mass defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party.
Ogundipe Olukayode, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security said, “The Lagos State House of Assembly wishes to categorically debunk the malicious and unfounded publication alleging that 27 members of the assembly are planning to defect from the ruling party to the opposition Labour Party. This publication is entirely false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.
“We find this report not only offensive but also riddled with inaccuracies and outright falsehoods that serve no purpose other than to sow discord and confusion within the assembly and among the good people of Lagos State.
“The recent developments in the House, including the removal of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and the election of Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the new Speaker, are purely internal matters. These actions were carried out in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”
DSS allegedly drills Lagos lawmakers over Obasa's impeachment
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Department of State Services questioned several Lagos lawmakers regarding the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Mudashiru Obasa, removed in January over misconduct allegations, insisted his ousting was unconstitutional and politically motivated, prompting the DSS inquiry.