Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have strongly condemned Monday’s invasion of the assembly complex by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police, describing the incident as a “rape of democracy, an aberration, and a national embarrassment.”
During a plenary session attended by 36 lawmakers, the legislators demanded an explanation from the Lagos State Director of the DSS regarding the presence of security operatives at the legislative complex.
They also called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the incident and provide the public with a detailed report on the findings.
The assembly also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately to prevent further escalation of the situation.
Expressing their outrage, the lawmakers unanimously condemned the invasion, describing it as an abuse of legislative procedure and a threat to democratic governance in the state.
“This is not a government ruled by the barrel of a gun. This is an aberration of democracy and a step toward anarchy. What happened today is a total embarrassment and an act of harassment,” said Abiodun Tobun during the session.
Tobun further reaffirmed the lawmakers’ loyalty to the Speaker, declaring, “Nobody can dictate to us. God chooses and removes leaders. We are solidly behind your leadership, Mr. Speaker—nobody can remove you.”
Another lawmaker, Gbolahan Yishawu, condemned the incident as “an unacceptable overreach by security agencies,” stressing that the legislature must be allowed to operate independently, free from intimidation.
“The Nigerian Constitution clearly defines the separation of powers. The legislature is a key pillar of democracy, and any attempt to intimidate or disrupt its activities must be condemned in the strongest terms,” Yishawu stated.
The lawmakers speculated that powerful and influential individuals or groups could be behind the invasion and called for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible.
They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the independence of the legislature, vowing to prevent any actions that could undermine democratic processes in the state.
As of now, the DSS and the Nigeria Police have yet to officially respond to the assembly’s condemnation and demands for an explanation.
