Security was significantly heightened at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, as lawmakers prepared for an emergency plenary session on Monday, March 3, 2025. Armed personnel cordoned off the premises, reinforcing a security presence that had already been in place for nearly two weeks. The increased vigilance was linked to an anticipated leadership change within the Assembly.

Reports indicate that the newly elected Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, is expected to step down to facilitate the emergence of a new Speaker, aligning with the zoning arrangement favoring candidates from the western zone. In response to the tense atmosphere, officers from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos State Police Command took strategic positions around the building, conducting thorough searches of all individuals, including staff, before granting entry.

An Assembly staff member, who requested anonymity, described the situation as highly tense, noting that even employees faced significant delays in accessing the premises. He recounted that it took him over an hour before he was finally allowed in.

The heightened security measures and political tension follow weeks of internal disputes and negotiations within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Over the weekend, President Bola Tinubu, alongside top APC leaders, brokered a resolution to the crisis. This agreement effectively confirmed Mudashiru Obasa’s removal as Speaker while ensuring that his exit was framed as a resignation rather than a dismissal.

Sources from the Presidential Villa revealed that prominent APC figures, including former National Chairman Bisi Akande, former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, and a former Lagos commissioner, played key roles in discussions with President Tinubu to resolve the leadership crisis.