A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has defended the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the election of Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, describing the process as constitutionally valid.
At a press conference in Lagos, the CSOs, comprising 157 women-led organizations, called for strict adherence to due process and condemned the alleged invasion of the Assembly by security operatives.
Reading the coalition’s statement, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Co-convener of Womanifesto, reaffirmed that the legislative process followed Sections 92 and 96 of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the groups, the majority of lawmakers followed due process, making Meranda the legitimate Speaker.
“We strongly support her leadership and urge all stakeholders to respect the constitutional process and uphold the legitimacy of her position,” the statement read.
The coalition hailed Meranda’s emergence as the first female Speaker of Lagos State, calling it a historic step toward gender inclusion in governance.
They emphasized the need for gender equity in leadership, noting that her victory serves as an inspiration for women and girls across Nigeria.
The CSOs strongly condemned the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly harassing lawmakers and denying them access to the chambers.
They described the incident as an unacceptable violation of democratic principles, warning that intimidation of elected officials undermines governance.
The coalition demanded that all state actors respect the independence of the legislature and refrain from using coercion to influence Assembly decisions.
They stressed that impeachment and electoral processes must remain transparent, fair, and lawful.
Standing firmly behind Meranda’s leadership, the CSOs urged all stakeholders to uphold the constitution and support women’s participation in governance, stressing that inclusive leadership is key to Lagos State’s development.
Copyrights Note
All rights reserved. The content on this website, including text and other digital materials, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.
For advertising inquiries, news coverage, or press releases, please contact us at thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or call 08144048512, 08051017159.
Post a Comment