The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers’s (NUPENG) slow-motion disintegration has reached critical mass, with stakeholders warning that inordinate ambition of some selected few, compromised judicial interventions and a “pull down the house” syndrome orchestrated by the Secretariat of the Union have subjected the Union’s planned 6th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference to a possible stillbirth and ruining its prospects of electing fresh national executives in a matter of hours.
This fresh twist of fate becomes evident in a letter dated 22nd April 2026, from the Chambers of Dr. Ogwu J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, referencing Suit NO: NICN/ABJ/140/2026, between Comrade Lucky Etuokwu Vs. NUPENG and ANOR duly acknowledged by the office of The Registrar of Trade Unions, Federal Ministry of Labour, Abuja on the subject of notification of pendency of Court action/applications with reference to the National Delegates Conference and National Administrative Council Election of NUPENG fixed for the 23rd and 24th of April, 2026.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was asking the office of the Registrar of Trade Unions to distance itself from the planned election by NUPENG on the 23rd and 24th of April, 2026 or any other day pending the determination of the suit before the Court.
The Learned Silk pointed out NUPENG’S flagrant disobedience to the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting at Port Harcourt, delivered on the 11th October 2024, which ordered the reinstatement of his client, Comrade Lucky Etuokwu, a duly elected, serving National Vice President of the Port-Harcourt Zone of NUPENG, who was unlawfully suspended.
“The effect of this judgment is that Comrade Lucky Etuokwu is still a valid member and officer of NUPENG. However, the General Secretary of NUPENG, Mr Afolabi Olawale, has issued and signed a notice of the 6th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference with the clear intention of excluding Comrade Lucky Etuokwu and other perceived enemies from that election and its processes whereas he is eligible to contest by virtue of Rule 7 (b) of the NUPENG Constitution,” the Learned silk stated.
The SAN who obviously put his years of meritorious service and integrity in the legal practice to bear clearly emphasised that any action taken by NUPENG leadership or the office of the Registrar of Trade Unions will be to undermine the authority and sanctity of the Court of competent jurisdiction.
He further stated that it is a clear principle of law that where any issue of controversy between parties is a subject of litigation, the parties are to exercise restraint, as not to do so will be counterproductive. “The court in such a situation will not hesitate to wield its big stick and sanction such conduct accordingly with severe punitive measures including setting aside such steps taken in contravention of the doctrine of ‘lis pendis” as expressed in OJUKWU v. GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt. 18) @ 621,” he said.
Many stakeholders who have been following the unfortunate developments in NUPENG found it crucial to bring to the knowledge of the general public that there are several other cases pending at the Court of Appeal Port-Harcourt filed by NUPENG leadership against Comrade Lucky Etuokwu; another case filled by Comrade Alex Ikechi Agwanwor against NUPENG in the Court of Appeal Abuja, seeking redress for his unlawful suspension and expulsion from the Union are yet to be determined at the Court of Appeal.
Still pending also is the case of Comrade Lucky Osesua against NUPENG leadership at the Court of Appeal Port-Harcourt; and the trumped-up criminal charges against Comrade Lucky Osesua and 19 others at the FCT High Court Maitama since November 2023.
The crisis in the Union has continued to deepen as parallel leaderships emerged, with ongoing suspensions, counter-suspensions, and duplicated structures plunging the oil and has put the Union into greater confusion and a state of disorientation.
With multiple court orders, parallel executives, and continuing fierce legal fireworks; prospects for a credible, transparent, peaceful, free and fair, nondiscriminatory, all inclusive and unifying Delegates Conference appear dim and unrealistic as the Union is presently constituted.
Stakeholders and many trade union observers in Nigeria and outside the shores of Africa are lending their voices and warning that unless the Union restores internal discipline, respect for due process, rule of law and as well call its General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale to order or terminate his appointment, the scheduled National Delegates Conference meant to hold in Lagos, even if it eventually holds, will amount to contempt of Court and may become yet another flashpoint in NUPENG’s long struggle for survival and legitimacy.
