Meranda locked out of office as tension rises in Lagos assembly

Mojisola Meranda, speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, could not access her office on Monday morning as rumours of her possible resignation swirled.

The speaker’s office was sealed by security operatives shortly before dawn.

Groups of police and task force personnel intermittently took brisk walks within and outside the complex to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Meranda sauntered into the assembly complex to cheers and applause from lawmakers and some members of staff.

“Madam speaker… madam speaker,” they chorused.

She acknowledged the cheers with a broad smile and a somewhat defiant, resolute look, before strolling round the premises — a retinue of her security detail in tow.

Meranda was elected as the first female speaker of the Lagos legislature on January 13, 2025, following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa.

Obasa was out of the country when he was replaced.

All principal positions and committees of the house were also dissolved in the wake of Obasa’s impeachment.

Upon his return to the country, Obasa said the house did not follow due process in removing him, insisting that he remained speaker of the assembly.