Lagos Assembly Denies Rumours of Mass Defection to Labour Party

The Lagos State House of Assembly has debunked rumors claiming that 27 of its members defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Labour Party (LP). Ogundipe Olukayode, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, dismissed the reports as “misleading” and “false.”

Olukayode emphasized that these rumors should be disregarded, stating that no member of the Assembly is considering defection. He reaffirmed that all members were elected under the APC banner, which remains united and committed to fulfilling its mandate to the people of Lagos State. He accused destabilization agents of spreading falsehoods aimed at sowing division within the Assembly.

The rumors of defection surfaced amidst political tension within the Assembly, which has been rocked by a leadership crisis. Earlier in the week, armed security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) were reportedly deployed to prevent the newly elected Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, from accessing the Assembly. Meranda was visibly emotional when she finally took the Speaker’s seat and presided over a plenary, where lawmakers loyal to her passed a vote of confidence in her leadership.

The ongoing leadership struggle traces back to the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker, followed by Meranda’s election. Obasa, who insists the removal process was flawed, has gone to court to challenge the decision.

Despite the unfolding crisis, the Lagos State House of Assembly has insisted there is no external interference in the leadership issue, asserting that the situation remains an internal matter.