No Leadership Crisis in NUPENG – NEC Member Says Obinna, Osesua, others face criminal charges Dismisses threats to disrupt oil sector

The national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has dismissed reports suggesting a leadership tussle within the union, particularly in its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch.
The clarification follows media reports credited to a former chairman of the PTD Branch, SOBAZ Unit, Calabar, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, who alleged that the President and General Secretary of the union, Comrades Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale respectively, were planning to instigate an industrial crisis in the oil sector.

Obinna claimed the crisis would arise from what he described as an “illegal attempt” to conduct PTD Branch zonal and unit elections in February and March 2026.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, Comrade Obinna said he had petitioned the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Minister of Labour and Employment. He further alleged that the planned elections violated the PTD by-laws and the NUPENG Constitution.
However, a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of NUPENG, who requested anonymity, stated that Comrade Obinna had long been suspended by the union and had consequently ceased to be a member of NUPENG.
The NEC member recalled that the former National Chairman of PTD-NUPENG, Lucky Osesua, who was removed following a ruling of the National Industrial Court sitting in Bayelsa, alongside Comrade Obinna, is currently facing criminal charges before a Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Investigations revealed that the former PTD National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, Comrade Obinna, and 18 others are standing trial before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal High Court, 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 the NUPENG National President, Williams Akporeha; the union’s General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi; and the former PTD National Chairman, Augustine Egbon (now deceased), in a manner said to be capable of causing their deaths, among other offences.
Further investigations showed that the Federal High Court is scheduled to resume hearing in the matter on February 9.
The NEC member stressed that the leadership of the union would not engage suspended members who are currently facing criminal charges.
He said:
“These are individuals who have been suspended by the union for acts capable of tarnishing the image of NUPENG. What right do they have to speak on the activities of the union? Until they resolve their pending criminal cases, we will not engage them, as we do not want to be seen as interfering with the judicial process. We hold the judiciary in high esteem.”
He assured members of the public that there was no threat to the prevailing peace in the midstream and downstream sectors of the oil industry from NUPENG.
“Our genuine members remain law-abiding and will not engage in any action capable of undermining the economy. However, we urge security agencies to take more than a passing interest in the activities of these individuals, as their open threats could be inimical to industrial harmony and peace in the oil sector.
“For the umpteenth time, we state categorically that these individuals are impostors. They are under suspension and cannot parade themselves as members of NUPENG,” he added.