NUPENG President Dismisses Claims of Using Police to Resolve Internal Leadership Crisis
Story Written by Okafor Joseph October 9,2025
The National President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Williams Akporeha, has refuted allegations that the union is deploying police and court actions to settle internal leadership disputes.
Akporeha made this clarification on Wednesday during cross-examination by defence counsel Christopher Oshomegie in the ongoing trial of 21 former Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) executives at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu.
The defendants, including former PTD National Chairman Lucky Osesua, Dayyabu Garga, Humble Obinna, and others, are facing a five-count charge bordering on attempted murder, breach of public peace, and assault.
In case number FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, prosecutors allege that the accused persons attacked Akporeha, NUPENG’s Secretary-General Olawale Afolabi, and the newly elected PTD National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, endangering their lives. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Testifying as the second prosecution witness, Akporeha insisted that NUPENG remains one unified body with no internal factions or rival groups.
“It is not true that one group is using the police or the court against another to settle union issues,” Akporeha said. “As the national president, I oversee all branches. NUPENG is one family, and PTD is just one of about 150 branches. There is no division within the union.”
He explained that the PTD leadership crisis began after a June 2022 election in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced Osesua and others. However, the National Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, nullified the election and ordered a fresh poll under NUPENG’s supervision.
“Following the nullification, another election was conducted as directed by the court. Some members again challenged the process in court, and that one too was nullified. Eventually, NUPENG organized a legitimate election in Ibadan, while a few others conducted an illegal one in Abuja,” he said.
Akporeha emphasized that only elections conducted under NUPENG’s authority are recognized as valid, reaffirming the union’s commitment to due process and unity.
