Police fire tear gas as rival political party supporters clash in Osun
Tension Erupts in Ede During Political Ceremony
EDE, Osun State — Tensions flared on Thursday as security forces deployed tear gas to disperse rival political supporters clashing during an event at the Ede South local government council premises.
The confrontation reportedly arose when members of two political parties gathered for a ceremony marking the commencement of reconstruction at the council complex, which had been previously demolished to accommodate a road expansion project. Witnesses described a heated exchange triggered by disputes over who held authority to initiate the reconstruction.
As tensions escalated into physical altercations among party loyalists, police officers on-site intervened in an attempt to restore order. One anonymous resident noted that the atmosphere quickly soured as political groups confronted one another near the council complex.
“The situation got out of control as supporters from both sides began arguing loudly before it turned physical,” the resident recounted.
The ceremony was organized by Elliot Adeyemi, recently reinstated as chairman under the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, members of the Accord party opposed the proceedings, arguing that Adeyemi lacked the constitutional authority to lead the event. They contended that Lukman Afolabi, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remained the legally recognized chairman of the Ede South local government following previous legal disputes over the position.
To manage the unrest, security personnel used tear gas to disperse the crowd, restoring calm to the area as authorities continued to monitor the situation.
