Aggrieved members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have raised alarm over alleged continued harassment, intimidation, and harmful treatment of selected members by the General Secretary of NUPENG, in connivance with the Nigeria Police Force.
They accuse these officials of fraudulently manipulating their electoral agreements and bylaws, and inciting public disorder.
The aggrieved members also allege that top officials of NUPENG and the police are determined to thwart the judgment of the National Industrial Court in Bayelsa State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In a strongly worded petition to the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Federal Secretariat Complex, and copied to all relevant agencies including the Presidency, the members expressed concerns over desperate moves by a faction of the union to manipulate the forthcoming election in their favor using the Nigeria Police. They called on the Minister and other relevant agencies to bring justice.
The petition, signed by Ikechukwu Okpalaelechi, Esq. of Indepth Legal Consults, outlined that before the delegates conference in 2022, Comrade Godwin Ewhrudjakpor from Warri Zone, Delta State, challenged the membership of Comrade Lucky Osesua in PTD.
Despite this, the delegates conference proceeded in June 2022 in Ibadan, where Comrade Osesua participated and won the election as the National Chairman of PTD-Extraction.
The petitioners noted that the court affirmed Comrade Lucky Osesua’s membership in PTD but nullified the election and dissolved the National Executive Council of PTD formed from that election.
The court declared the election a breach of PTD’s 2019 bylaws and ordered NUPENG to set up a caretaker committee and an electoral committee to conduct a new election within four months.
The court stipulated that the electoral process must comply with the 2019 PTD bylaws and not be arbitrarily exercised by NUPENG.
According to the petitioners, NUPENG failed to follow these directives, leading to significant internal strife.
They accused the General Secretary and his allies of manipulating the caretaker and electoral committees to favor certain individuals, effectively disenfranchising Comrade Osesua and others through restrictive election guidelines.
The petitioners further alleged that Comrade Otunba Saliman Oladiti, the immediate past National Chairman of PTD, was inciting problems within the union due to his ambitions to control PTD’s properties and leadership structure.
They claimed he aims to act as a godfather, selecting PTD’s leadership to cover up misconduct within the union.
Additionally, members alleged indiscriminate suspensions of those supporting Comrade Osesua, creating division within PTD.
They accused the NUPENG officials of implementing measures that disrupted PTD’s operations and attempted to eliminate Comrade Osesua’s candidacy through fraudulent means.
The petitioners highlighted repeated petitions to the police, alleging fabricated charges against Comrade Osesua and his group, resulting in intimidation, harassment, and detention.
Despite a court ruling on May 29, 2024, nullifying both elections and ordering a new election within four months, the so-called godfather and his cohorts continue to use the police to harass Comrade Osesua and his supporters, even preventing them from conducting their business.
The petitioners appealed to the National Security Adviser to intervene, bring justice, unity, and harmony to PTD, and investigate the involvement of security agencies in the harassment and intimidation of Comrade Osesua and his supporters.
End.