Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly criticized the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police’s invasion of the assembly premises on Monday, calling it 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 DSS about the reasons for the security personnel’s presence at the legislative complex.
They also urged Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, to investigate the event and give the public a detailed report on the results.
The assembly also requested President Bola Tinubu to intervene promptly to avoid further escalation of the crisis.
Outraged, the politicians unanimously condemned the invasion, claiming it was an abuse of legislative procedure and a threat to democratic administration 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.
He also underlined the legislators’ commitment to the Speaker of the House, saying, “Nobody can dictate to us. God chooses and removes leaders. We are solidly behind your leadership, Mr. Speaker—nobody can remove you.”
Another politician, Gbolahan Yishawu, called the incident “an unacceptable overreach by security agencies,” emphasizing that the legislature must be allowed to act independently and without fear.
“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 said.
The politicians suggested that prominent and influential persons or groups might be behind the invasion, calling for a comprehensive inquiry to discover those involved.
They insisted that the Lagos Assembly would remain unified in safeguarding the legislature’s independence and ensuring that such measures did not jeopardize democratic processes throughout the state.
The DSS and Nigeria Police have yet to officially respond to the assembly’s criticism and request for an explanation.
