Tension flared at the Lagos seaport on Thursday as members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) staged a protest over what they described as an attempt to impose a new leader ahead of the union’s upcoming elections.
The demonstration, which disrupted port operations and business activities, stemmed from dissatisfaction with a recently released list of candidates for the union’s elections, expected to take place soon.
Speaking anonymously, a union insider told reporters that the protesting workers, particularly those under the Dockworkers Branch, were angered by the perceived sidelining of their branch in the allocation of elective positions—contrary to what they say is stipulated in Rule 14a governing the election process.
The main source of discontent was the reported emergence of a candidate from the ENL Terminal chapter at Apapa Port, whose campaign for the branch presidency sparked outrage among members. Workers from the Tin Can Chapter argued that, based on a long-standing rotational agreement meant to ensure balance and industrial harmony, the next union president should come from their chapter.
“The current president is from the ENL chapter, and with his term ending, it was expected that the leadership would rotate to Tin Can, as it has always done in the spirit of fairness,” the source said.
The sudden appearance of campaign posters supporting the ENL candidate only intensified frustrations, reviving concerns over past domination by a single zone. The protests quickly spread across key port areas, raising concerns about further disruption to maritime activities if the dispute is not resolved.
