Rhodes-Vivour condemns invasion of Lagos Assembly by DSS, Police

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State in the 2023 general elections, has condemned Monday’s invasion of the State’s Assembly by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The leadership crisis broke out following the recent removal of Mudashiru Obasa as the Assembly Speaker as the crisis took a different dimension when DSS officials and Nigeria Police sealed the Offices of the current Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and the Clerk of the House.

Reacting in a statement on his X page, formerly twitter on Monday, the former governorship candidate bemoaned the situation, saying the Lagos State House of Assembly is the people’s House and a symbol of the State’s democratic values and aspirations, noting that the invasion was a reminder of the Military era in the country.

The politician called for the withdrawal of Security Agencies from the Assembly, while urging Lagosians to resist any attempt to undermine their independence through intimidation and tactics.

“Reports of armed DSS officials storming and sealing the office of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda and the alleged militarization of the Assembly complex at Alausa are deeply troubling.

Read also: Lawmakers begged DSS for security, says Lagos Assembly Clerk

“This brazen display of force at our state’s legislative chamber represents a dangerous assault on democratic institutions and the principle of separation of powers.

“The deployment of security forces to intimidate elected representatives and interfere with legislative functions is reminiscent of our dark days under military rule and has no place in a democratic society.

“The Lagos State House of Assembly is the people’s House, a symbol of our democratic values and aspirations.

“All well-meaning Lagosians must resist any attempt to undermine their independence through intimidation tactics.

“Therefore, I call for the immediate withdrawal of DSS operatives from the Assembly complex and demand a full public explanation of the legal basis for this action.

“Without respect for established democratic processes and the independence of the Lagos State House of Assembly, we risk a shameful descent into anarchy”, he said through his X handle.