Petrol tanker drivers reject PTD-NUPENG election as court calls for fresh polls

Petroleum tanker drivers have rejected the July 3, 2024, election by their union, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, a branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG.

This is as the National Industrial Court, on May 29, ordered PTD to conduct an all-inclusive fresh election of executives.

Lucky Osesua, Dayyabu Garga, Humble Power, and other tanker drivers disclosed this in a statement to DAILY POST on Thursday.

The drivers described the election of PTD on July 3, which was held in Lagos, as illegitimate and void.

Consequently, the group said it would re-approach the court to seek justice and fairness.

“We sincerely thank the judiciary for standing up and being the hope of the common man. The National Industrial Court has yet again, for the second time, ordered a fresh all-inclusive and non-discriminatory election on any account and in line with the PTD Bye-Laws.

“We assure you of a free, just, and peaceful election, and we shall continue to challenge NUPENG to do the right thing and allow the same peace to reign.

“The court judgement means that all members are to return to their respective unit positions as they were before the purported suspension.

“We condemn and frown at the kangaroo election and delegate’s conference held in Lagos, which is the stronghold of the acclaimed “godfather” and those who claim to own PTD.

“We are categorically stating that the election and delegate’s conference should follow PTD tradition. The delegate’s conference be organised in a neutral location, such as Abuja-FCT.

“We have instructed and our lawyers have written several protest letters to NUPENG, security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, DSS, Office of the National Security Adviser, and others to register the grievances of PTD members,” the statement affirmed.

The development comes as a leadership crisis has continued to rock PTD since last year.