Members of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Seamen/Niwa and Water Transport Workers, Kono water front branch in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, embarked on a peaceful march to protest the elongation of tenure of the branch leadership led by Comrade Roland Yowika by the state executive of the union.

The protesting union members accused the state leadership of the union led by Comrade Francis Bunu for complicity and breached the rules of the union in the area.

Some of the plascards carried by the protesters had inscriptions like “Bunu has no right to tenure elongation”, tenure elongation is unconstitutional, Roland Yowika used our money to bribe the State Council, we want an election, enough of intimidation, forward ever, backward never, there was no election in 2010 among others.

Speaking to newsmen at the union office in Kono waterside, the leader of the group, Comrade Allen G. Wifa said the peaceful protest march was to register their grievances over the purported elongation of the tenure of the executives by the State Council of the union.

According to Comrade Wifa, the branch executive under the leadership of Roland Yowika was elected on the 7th March, 2008 with a mandatory four year single term adding that their tenure expired on 7th March, 2012.

Comrade Wifa accused the State Council of fanning the embers of crisis in the branch by their refusal to conduct a fresh election into the branch executive at the expiration of present excos rather issued a circular dated 13th July 2010 purportedly to have conducted another election which returned all the former executive in to office.

The leader of the group disclosed that various attempt made by the union members to ensure the conduct of election in the branch met some refusal adding that members of the union has vowed not to relent on the struggle until an election is conducted.

In their contributions, Comrade Leader Oko and Daniel Wiwuga averred that they would continue with their protest and threatened to stop all commission being collected in the branch if the election is not conducted.

They called on the leadership of the union to constitute a caretaker committee in the interim pending the election of substantive executive adding that the continued stay in office by the present executive after the expiration of their tenure would brew crises in the area.

When contacted, the state chairman of the union, Comrade Francis Bunu denied the allegations but stated that the purported elections conducted in 2008 was done in error by caretaker committee adding that the matter was quashed by a competent court.

Also contracted on the matter, the Divisional Police Officer, Bori, Mr. Umem Uyoh confirmed the protest but declined further comments as he was not in place to speak.