In a shocking turn of events, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos State, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of attempting to force the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, to step down.
Rhodes-Vivour described the DSS’s invasion of the Assembly, which was supported by police operatives, as a grave blow to the state’s political integrity.
The incident unfolded on Monday following a leadership crisis in the Assembly. Meranda had recently replaced Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker after his impeachment, which he disputes, claiming that proper procedures were not followed.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Rhodes-Vivour condemned the invasion, stating, “It was a major low for politics in Lagos State today.” He continued, “What we saw today was an attempt to intimidate the speaker to step aside and resign by using armed men and threats of violence.”
Rhodes-Vivour urged that the crisis be resolved “in a civilized fashion,” adding, “The State Assembly must owe its loyalty to its constituents and not any godfather.”