NLC Election Turns Violent As Aspirants Disrupt Polls, Snatch, Hijack And Destroy Ballot Boxes

The 11th National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress was on Thursday abruptly disrupted as aggrieved parties hijack, and smash ballot boxes being used to elect incoming leaders of the organisation, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The International Conference Centre’s venue of the conference was thrown into confusion as delegates ran for dear lives after some aggrieved contestants and their supports suddenly became violent, hijacking and destroying ballot boxes even while voting was still underway.

After the disruption, the police took over the venue and delegates were sent away, ostensibly to protect the facility from being vandalised.

Labour leaders have now reconvened at the NLC headquarters in the Central Business District of Abuja for a meeting, scheduled for 1 p.m., aimed at resolving the logjam.

Three candidates are contesting to succeed incumbent President Waheed Omar’s, whose tenure has elapsed .
The candidates are; the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Joe Ajaero; the National President of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Igwe Achese; and National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria Ayuba Wabba.

See tweets by the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA.

Breaking: NLC election is disrupted as aggrieved parties are said to hijack and destroy ballot boxes while voting was on going.

— NTA News (@NTANewsNow) February 12, 2015