The National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has dismissed media reports of leadership tussle in the Union, particularly in its Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) Branch.
The clarification by NUPENG came on the heels of media reports attributed to a former chairman of the PTD Branch, SOBAZ Unit Calabar, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, alleging of a plan to create an industrial crisis in the oil sector.
Comrade Obinna reportedly alleged that Comrades Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG President and General Secretary, respectively, were planning to create the crisis through what he called “illegal attempt to conduct PTD Branch Zonal and Units elections in February and March 2026.”
Addressing journalists in Abuja, on Friday, Comrade Obinna claimed to have petitioned offices of the NSA, IGP, DG DSS, President of the NLC, and the Minister of Labour and Employment.
He further claimed that the plan to hold zonal and units elections was in breach of the provisions of the PTD bylaws and the Constitution of the NUPENG.
But a member of the National Executive Committee of NUPENG who craved anonymity declared that Comrade Obinna had since been suspended by the Union and has consequently ceased to be a member of NUPENG.
He recalled that the former National Chairman of the PTD- NUPENG, Lucky Osesua, who was removed by a pronouncement of the National Industrial Court, sitting in Bayelsa State, is facing criminal charges before an Abuja Federal High Court, along with Lucky Osesua and Comrade Obinna.
Investigation revealed that the former National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, Comrade Obinna and 18 others are standing trial before Justice Yusuf Halilu, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a five-count charge bordering on attempted murder, breach of peace, and assault.
In the suit, marked: FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, the defendants were alleged to have attacked NUPENG National President, Williams Akporeha; General-Secretary, Olawale Afolabi; and the PTD National Chairman, Augustine Egbon (now deceased), thus acting in a manner likely to cause their deaths, among others offences.
Further investigation revealed that the Abuja Federal High Court will, on 9 February, resume hearing in the ongoing criminal trial of Obinna and others.
The NUPENG NEC member maintained that the leadership of the Union would not openly join issues with suspended members who are currently facing charges.
He said: “These are individuals who have been suspended by the Union for acts capable of casting aspersions on the image of NUPENG.
“So, what rights do they have to talk about activities of the Union? Until they sort out their pending criminal trial, we don’t want to engage them as we don’t want to be seen to be meddling in the judicial process. We hold the judiciary in high esteem”
“We want to assure members of the public that there is no threat to the existing peace in the midstream and downstream sectors coming from NUPENG.
“Our genuine members remain law-abiding and would not partake in any activity that would undermine the economy.
“But we wish to urge the security agencies to take more than passing interests in the actions of these individuals as their open threats could be inimical to the existing peace and industrial harmony in the oil sector.
“For the umpteenth time, we say categorically that these characters are impostors. They are on suspension and can’t parade themselves as members of NUPENG.”
