Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Edo State Local Government Commission has suspended the just concluded Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), election over reported cases of violence in some LGAs.
The Edo State Local Government Commission, in a letter addressed to the president of NULGE in the state, attributed the suspension to the increasing number of petitions, disputes, and growing unrest among staff of the Unified Local Government Service.
The letter, signed by the secretary of the commission, Odigie George, noted that the most worrisome aspect was the reported security breach at the Uhunmwode Local Government Council.
It was learnt that the NULGE election, which was held simultaneously across the 18 local government areas on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, was disrupted by armed thugs in some councils.
Sources revealed that violence erupted in Uhunmwode and Igueben local government areas, allegedly leading to the shooting and injuring of some staff.
The sources further said delegates who refused to cast their votes for certain candidates in Uhunmwode and Igueben were reportedly beaten and chased away from the election venues amid gunfire.
Some delegates in one of the affected councils attributed the disruption to alleged forceful imposition.
One of the delegates alleged that a particular council chairman wrote the names of candidates he wanted to emerge as executives of NULGE in the council.
Trouble was said to have started when the anointed chairman’s candidate discovered that his opponent was in a clear lead.
Suspected political thugs then reportedly invaded the venue and began shooting sporadically. The delegates were chased away, and the ballot boxes were destroyed.