‘Attack on democracy’: Atiku condemns security operatives’ invasion of Lagos Assembly

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in the Ikeja area of the state by security operatives.

There was a commotion at the Assembly complex in Lagos on Monday, February 17, 2025, as lawmakers and legislative staff clashed with the Department of State Services (DSS) officers after they arrived at the chamber.

The complex was shut for several hours before some legislative staff forced the chamber’s doors open.

The DSS later denied that its operatives invaded the Assembly complex, saying the officers were invited to forestall an alleged move to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the House.

Reacting via a statement on Monday, Atiku described the incident as “an attack on the sanctity of democracy”, noting that the invasion of the Assembly complex should be investigated.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election added that President Bola Tinubu “should focus on bringing Nigeria out of the mess he plunged the country into rather than interfering in the state matters.”

‘We were invited’: DSS denies invading Lagos Assembly complex

Atiku said: “The viral video of armed security operatives invading the Lagos State House of Assembly is utterly reprehensible and stands condemned. It must be subjected to a full and thorough investigation.

“It is bewildering that the invading operatives reportedly have a mandate to enforce a leadership change in the House.

“It is appalling that it is those who claimed to have fought for democracy that decided to sanction this crass desecration of the state’s foremost legislative body, and by so doing, putting our hard-earned democracy in jeopardy.

“This act is an attack on the sanctity of democracy and a landmark of indignity to the Nigerian electorate, especially the people of Lagos.

“Whatever may have caused the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly is an undercurrent that is not abnormal in a system of democracy.

“The purported invitation of armed security operatives for a conflict resolution in a parliament is an anathema that should be frowned upon and interrogated with all sense of urgency.”

The Star