The Labour Party (LP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Lagos, citing concerns over the political crisis surrounding the removal of Speaker Mojisola Meranda by her predecessor, Mudashiru Obasa.
The party also claimed that 36 lawmakers from the Lagos State House of Assembly are in talks to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to LP due to dissatisfaction with Obasa’s return to the Speaker’s seat.
In an interview on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, confirmed that representatives of the lawmakers from Lagos West, Lagos East, and Lagos Central had approached the party.
Arabambi stated that three of the lawmakers, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed their disappointment over what they described as Obasa’s “unlawful conduct and political brigandage.”
“They were shocked that Obasa, who has a pending court case scheduled for February 28, took the law into his own hands with the backing of some old-guard members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly with thugs and security personnel,” Arabambi said.
He also criticized what he termed the “criminal silence” of APC leaders on the matter, questioning why allegations of mismanagement of over N30 billion against Obasa were being ignored.
“What happened to the corruption allegations against Obasa? Are they being swept under the carpet? Who is afraid of Obasa exposing their secrets?” Arabambi queried.
Describing the situation as “avoidable,” Arabambi expressed disappointment in Lagos APC leaders and accused them of failing to take a stand.
“The Labour Party is calling for the immediate declaration of a state of emergency in Lagos. The silence of APC leaders shows their bias against women and indigenous Lagosians,” he alleged.
Arabambi also used the opportunity to push the LP’s agenda ahead of the 2027 elections, positioning the party as the alternative to APC.
“This incident proves that APC cannot be trusted. Labour Party remains the only hope for the common man. In 2027, we are ready to restore stability, create jobs, and bring prosperity to Nigerians under the leadership of Barr. Julius Abure and Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim Umar,” he stated.
The Labour Party urged the 36 lawmakers to finalize their defection plans, adding that LP is set to present Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as its governorship candidate in Lagos and Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.
