“Judiciary remains hope of common man”- PTD hails court for stopping NUPENG from conducting “sham elections”

A pressure group in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch Of NUPENG known as “Justice Forum” comprising leaders from South-South Zone of the Union has again expressed faith and confidence in the nation’s Industrial Court for stopping NUPENG from conducting what it called “sham election” in PTD, saying judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

The Caretaker Chairman of the group, Comrade Praise Ogidi-King on Saturday expressed appreciation to the judiciary for its assuring strides, and advised the entire PTD stakeholders across the four zones in the country to keep faith alive and refuse to be swayed negatively by recent shenanigans ochestrated by the General Secretary of the Union, Afolabi Olawale.

Ogidi-King explained that a major jinx had been broken in the Union and an era which would put an end to legitimacy of delusion was gradually taking shape in the once respected and highly revered Oil and Gas Union.

He further asserted that, now a diverse number of stakeholders in the Union were being empowered to collectively work together to speed up the revitalization of the Branch and restore back its lost glory and dignity and put a final halt to the regime of crass incompetence and dictatorship.

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The caretaker Chairman said, “I am deeply elated to see that a Judge could stand firm, uphold integrity, dignity and fairness. That is the height of transparency and clarity in judicial proceedings which has the potential of leading to unbiased judgement. People should always be held accountable when they violate the law.

“I have said it before and I am still repeating it again that NUPENG as presently constituted cannot conduct any free, fair, transparent and credible elections for PTD. 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 and show of gross impunity and contempt against court of competent jurisdiction.

“However, I am of strong conviction that better days are surely ahead for all law abiding members and leaders of PTD. We can all see the hands of God in PTD when the Honorable Justice Anuwe told the legal counsel to NUPENG that no Unit or Zonal elections should be conducted in PTD pending the time the Court will finally rule or deliver judgement on the substantive matter presented before it.

“Meanwhile, many Unit Executives have already gathered and some were on their way to the NNPC Osisioma, Aba Depot to conduct Unit elections slated for Friday, 6th of March 2026, before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Abuja intervened and stopped them on Wednesday 4th of March 2026.

“With the look of things I am optimistic that PTD will eventually move into an era that will bring about progress, development and genuine democratic regime that will cater to the needs and welfare of all members. This is another opportunity God has presented for NUPENG leadership to put their house in order and resort to peaceful resolution and reconciliation with all aggrieved members who have suffered extreme pain and neglect in the past two and half years. The clock is ticking and we are patiently waiting and assuring all members to remain law abiding, justice is simply on the way.”