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The Caretaker Chairman of a group known as “Justice Forum” comprising of leaders of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG, South South Zone, Comrade Praise Ogidi-King on behalf of his group has accused the parent Union of being “economical with facts” amid the ongoing crisis within the Oil and Gas Union.
Comrade Ogidi-King also expressed doubts that the Union could conduct free and fair elections in the forthcoming Unit and Zonal elections of both the PTD Branch and the Parent Union (NUPENG). He also cited several infractions one of which was disenfranchisement of several stakeholders who are willing to take part in the planned electoral exercises.
The statement signed by the head of “Justice Forum” on Friday February 27, 2026 comes on the heels of alleged manipulations and treacherous tendencies of the General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale and the stooges he planted at the Branch level, who are bent on subverting the will of the people to satisfy their own pecuniary gains.
Comrade Ogidi-King’s statement which he made available to newsmen reads in parts: “The current National leadership of NUPENG has over the years been economical with facts, and this is not good but very dangerous for the growth and success of the Union. We don’t want the repeat of what led to the current crisis in PTD and we want stakeholders in the industry to wade in to avoid a bigger crisis it could further bring to the Union.
“We can recall clearly how the July 3, 2024 “Kangaroo exercise” was conducted which is still being challenged in the National Industrial Court Abuja, as it went against the judgment of the National Industrial Court of May 29, 2024. The PTD faction had held parallel elections to select the Union’s national executives with the persistent claim that NUPENG’s election guidelines favored their (NUPENG) preferred candidates and was never all-inclusive and nondiscriminatory.
“These shenanigans must stop, PTD and NUPENG aren’t business empires to anyone therefore those saddled with leadership responsibilities should conduct themselves in line with constitutional provisions laid down by its founding fathers of the Union. The world is watching us everyday, we need to set good examples and as well be decent and God-fearing in our engagements especially in the processes of how leaders emerge in the Union whether at Unit, Zonal or National level. Enough is enough.
Ogidi questioned NUPENG and PTD’s ability to conduct unbiased elections, adding: “So, how do you think that NUPENG as presently constituted can conduct any election again in this Union that will not be biased?” The one they conducted in 2022 was nullified in 2023, the election of 31st October 2023 was nullified on May 29th 2024; and another election conducted by NUPENG leadership on 3rd July 2024 is still pending before Hon Justice Anuwe of the National Industrial Court Abuja; that is gross incompetence.
He further warned that the “Justice Forum” may take the matter international, emphasizing: “You cannot frustrate your check-off-due paying and card carrying members in favour of some selected few, who will only be subservient to you. It is against democracy and ILO extant rules; NUPENG and its surrogates cannot destroy the Union that has been in existence and relevance for almost 50 years.”
Comrade Ogidi-King’s statement underscores the growing tension between various factions in PTD as well as the illegal expulsion of some key union executives in NUPENG, particularly the National Treasurer, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, and the Porr Harcourt Zonal Chairman, Comrade Mina Samuel, and others amid ongoing legal and political disputes over Union leadership which is even Subjudice in the eye of the law.
“It is really ridiculous that a Union like NUPENG will flagrantly refuse to give out forms to some Comrades for the proposed NUPENG Unit and Zonal elections. Worst still, they are giving forms to PTD Unit Chairmen to gather information about members and their National Identification Numbers (NIN). These sets of power-drunk leaders have surrounded the Unit and Zonal elections with a lot of controversies and secrecy more than joining a demonic secret cult. So sad, so disheartening. We therefore urge stakeholders in the industry including law enforcement agents like the Police and DSS to come to the aid of the Union before the exacerbating situation ruins the Union and puts it into extinction,” Ogidi-King added.
