This statement was obtained by The Record from the SA Media to the Speaker House Assembly, Victor Ghanzalo.
Thirty-seven members of the 40-member Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, reaffirmed their trust in Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda as the substantive Speaker by passing a vote of confidence in her leadership.
The resolution came amid speculation about Meranda’s possible resignation.
During Monday’s plenary session, Oladipo Ajomale, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 2, moved a motion to affirm the Assembly’s confidence in her leadership.
Ajomale emphasized that Meranda’s election was conducted in line with the Nigerian Constitution and other relevant laws.
“We elected you as Speaker because we believe in you. We will demonstrate publicly that this decision was made by duly elected members of the House,” Ajomale stated.
He then called on lawmakers to affirm their vote of confidence in Meranda, urging them to stand and raise their hands, a request they unanimously complied with, as seen in viral videos of the session.
Hon. Adewale Temitope, member representing Ifako Ijaiye 01, who added his voice to the call, said: “Madam Speaker, the 37 members of this hallowed chamber of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu House of Assembly have spoken. A vote of confidence has been passed on your leadership.”
Following the vote, the House adjourned plenary indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the leadership crisis in the Assembly took another turn on Monday as fully armed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the complex.
The heavily armed DSS and police officers sealed off the offices of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Clerk of the House.
However, despise the tense atmosphere, Meranda presided over the session, asserting her authority as Speaker. The crisis follows the recent removal of Mudashiru Obasa from the position.
Hundreds of staff of the assembly trooped out in solidarity with the Speaker. They sang various songs of solidarity affirming the support for the lawmakers’ decision to elect Meranda to lead them following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as speaker in January.