..Lawmakers Refute Claims, Call Allegations Baseless
The Lagos State House of Assembly has firmly denied allegations suggesting that Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is involved in the ongoing leadership crisis within the Assembly.
In a statement released on Tuesday, February 18, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, dismissed the claims as false and unfounded. He stressed that all Assembly members maintain high regard for the First Lady and that she has no involvement in the internal affairs of the House.
“All members of the Assembly hold the First Lady in the highest regard. As a distinguished former First Lady of Lagos State and now the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has made significant contributions to governance and national development,” the statement read in part.
Ogundipe reiterated that the reports attempting to link her to the crisis were purely fabrications with no factual basis.
DSS Seals Key Offices Amid Leadership Tensions
Tensions escalated on Monday, February 17, when operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) sealed the offices of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk of the Lagos Assembly. The DSS clarified that its presence was based on an official request from lawmakers seeking security reinforcement.
Intelligence reports reportedly warned of potential disruptions tied to efforts to reinstate the impeached former speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. While some accused the DSS of an “invasion,” the agency maintained that its deployment was strictly to prevent security threats and maintain order within the Assembly complex.
Atiku Slams Tinubu Over Assembly Crisis
Reacting to the situation, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the crisis. He accused the president of interfering in Lagos Assembly affairs and called for urgent scrutiny into the security deployment at the legislative house.
As political tensions persist, stakeholders continue to watch closely for further developments in the unfolding power struggle within the Lagos Assembly.
