Crisis appears to be deepening within the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) as the Dockworker Justice Forum, a faction within the union’s dockworkers’ branch, has dragged the union’s leadership before the National Industrial Court over alleged abuse of power and violation of due process.
The group accused the leadership of the dockworkers’ arm, led by Comrade Bunu Abi, of allegedly handpicking loyalists to occupy key district positions ahead of the yet-to-be-announced district elections — a move they described as undemocratic and unconstitutional.
At the National Industrial Court sitting on October 14, 2025, MWUN’s counsel, Barrister Anyanwu, appeared on behalf of the union and requested an adjournment, following which the presiding judge fixed January 11, 2026, for the next hearing.
The court, however, ordered that no district elections should be conducted until the matter before it is determined.
According to the Dockworker Justice Forum, the union’s constitution mandates that district delegates must be allowed to freely elect their leaders without external interference or intimidation. They alleged that the current leadership has not only violated that principle but also sought to bar some bona fide members from contesting for positions of their choice.
The group maintained that the ongoing manipulation of the process threatens the union’s democratic integrity and could plunge the dockworkers’ arm into deeper crisis if unchecked.
Observers say the case could prove pivotal in shaping the future of internal democracy within MWUN, amid growing discontent over how the union is being managed under its current leadership.
