There was unrest at the Owo Local Government Secretariat in Ondo State on Monday as a lingering leadership dispute escalated, with reports of an alleged attack on the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Adene Adetunji, and a fresh attempt to remove the suspended council chairman, Tope Omotayo.
Witnesses said the tension began when some councillors, reportedly opposed to the suspended chairman, converged on the secretariat in what was seen as a renewed push to initiate impeachment proceedings, despite the chairman not having resumed duty since his suspension.
The gathering later degenerated into a confrontation between the councillors and NULGE members who were said to be on ground during the unfolding events.
During the clash, a councillor, Adenike Agbede, was accused of physically attacking the NULGE chairman, allegedly slapping him and hitting him in the eye, an incident that further escalated the tension.
A witness described the scene as chaotic, noting that the situation deteriorated rapidly as shouting and pushing ensued among those present.
“The environment became tense within minutes. People were yelling and struggling, each group defending its position. It was disorderly,” the source said.
The incident created panic within the council premises, with workers and visitors seen moving to safer areas as the situation intensified.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the government, while the atmosphere around the secretariat remained tense.
