Violence ensued on Thursday at the election of the Enugu State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
About 30 hoodlums stormed Michael Okpara square, venue of the annual general meeting and the election of new executives of the association for the next two years.
While voting was on, the invaders began destroying chairs, tables and canopies.
They also upturned the ballot boxes and pounced on members of the electoral committee.
Several NMA members including the incumbent chairman Dr. Ike Okwesili were seriously injured in the process.
The invasion is believed to be linked to an incident which occurred a fortnight ago.
A faction of the state NMA had announced the suspension of Okwesili for alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.
They subsequently appointed Dr Kinsley Ugwuonye as acting chairman.
A member of the Enugu NMA Dr Ejike Odo, however, told PUNCH: “We hope he (Okwesili) is fine wherever he may be because he was brutalised.”
He said policemen who were drafted to the venue of the election had trouble preventing major casualties.
