The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has dismissed claims of a leadership tussle within its Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) branch.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement on Friday, the union addressed allegations reportedly made by Humble Obinna, a former chairman of the PTD branch, SOBAZ unit, Calabar. Obinna had claimed that Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, president and general secretary of NUPENG respectively, were planning to provoke an industrial crisis by “illegally” conducting PTD branch zonal and unit elections in February and March 2026, in violation of PTD bylaws and the union constitution.
NUPENG said Obinna has been suspended from the union and is currently facing charges before a federal high court in Abuja, along with Lucky Osesua, a former national chairman of PTD-NUPENG removed by a National Industrial Court ruling in Bayelsa.
“These are individuals who have been suspended by the Union for acts capable of casting aspersions on the image of NUPENG,” the statement read.
“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.”
The union reassured the public and industry stakeholders that there is no threat to peace in the midstream and downstream sectors.
“Our genuine members remain law-abiding and would not partake in any activity that would undermine the economy,” NUPENG said.
The union also urged security agencies to monitor the actions of the suspended members, warning that their threats could disrupt industrial harmony. NUPENG described Obinna and Osesua as “impostors” who cannot represent the union.
