By Grace Ajah
Tension erupted in Ede, Osun State, on Thursday after armed operatives of the Nigeria Police Force dispersed residents with teargas during a project unveiling ceremony organised by the chairman of Ede North Local Government.
The event, held in the Elerin community of Ede, was being conducted by Elliott Adeyemi when the situation turned chaotic as residents gathered at the venue amid an ongoing dispute over the control of local government councils in the state.
Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating online showed police officers firing teargas to disperse a crowd that had assembled around the project site. Some of those present were reportedly wearing yellow caps associated with the Accord Party.
The incident has further highlighted the political tension in Osun over the legitimacy of local government leadership.
Rival Council Leadership Fuels Crisis
The crisis is linked to the long-running disagreement over which political group should control local government councils in the state.
Chairmen elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress during the October 15, 2022 local government elections have continued to administer the councils since February 2025.
However, another set of chairmen elected under the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 22, 2025 elections have been operating in alignment with the Osun State Government, creating parallel leadership structures in several councils.
One of the PDP-backed chairmen, Taiwo Amodu, accused the police of attacking residents who gathered at the venue.
According to Amodu, the project being unveiled had been initiated during his tenure as caretaker chairman as part of a plan to boost the council’s Internally Generated Revenue.
He explained that a committee comprising council officials, youth representatives, civil servants and members of the community had been set up to oversee the leasing of some council properties, with proceeds intended to develop the land where the project was located.
Allegations of Vehicle Damage
Amodu alleged that the situation escalated when supporters of the rival political camp attempted to proceed with a ceremonial flag-off despite earlier appeals for calm.
He claimed the teargas fired by security operatives forced residents to flee the scene and that several vehicles were damaged during the incident.
The dispute had earlier drawn the attention of the traditional ruler of Ede, Adesola Lawal, who reportedly urged the parties involved to maintain peace.
Police Confirm Incident
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that an incident occurred in Ede but said further details were still being gathered.
Efforts to reach Adeyemi for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone were not answered and a message sent to him had not received a response as of the time of filing this report.
The incident adds to the growing political tension surrounding local government administration in Osun State, where rival political interests continue to contest authority over council structures.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.