Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, strongly condemned the invasion of the assembly complex on Monday 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 reasons behind 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 briefing on the findings.
Furthermore, the assembly urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene swiftly to prevent any further escalation of the situation.
Expressing their outrage, the lawmakers unanimously denounced the invasion, labeling it as a violation of legislative procedure and a direct threat to democratic governance in the state.
Abiodun Tobun, one of the lawmakers, said, “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.”
Tobun also reaffirmed the lawmaker’s loyalty to the Speaker of the House, asserting, “Nobody can dictate to us.
God chooses and removes leaders.
We are solidly behind your leadership, Mr. Speaker—nobody can remove you.”
Gbolahan Yishawu, another lawmaker, described the invasion as “an unacceptable overreach by security agencies,” stressing that the legislature must function without intimidation.
“The Nigerian Constitution clearly spells out 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 added.
The lawmakers speculated that influential individuals or groups may have been behind the invasion and called for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible.
They emphasized their commitment to protecting the independence of the legislature and ensuring that such actions do not 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 its demands for an explanation.
