Tensions are rising within the Independent Marketers Branch (IMB) of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as two former officials have accused top union leaders in the Port Harcourt zone of tribal discrimination, political victimisation, and deliberate exclusion ahead of the 2026 delegate conference.
Chinedu Omeje, a former Zonal Vice Chairman and Secretary at the Port Harcourt Refinery, alleged in a statement that his suspension from the union was orchestrated by four top officials, including NUPENG’s National Treasurer and Rivers State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Alex Agwanwor. He described the leadership style of the accused as one of “deprivation, witch-hunting, and injustice,” claiming his suspension was carried out without a formal petition or an opportunity for a fair hearing.
According to Omeje, the disciplinary panel that tried him was a “kangaroo court” set up to disqualify him from contesting in the forthcoming national or zonal elections. “This is a calculated attempt to sideline credible candidates and manipulate the electoral process,” he said.
Supporting Omeje’s claims, former Zonal Welfare Officer, Uyata Nduke, pointed to irregularities in the 2022 and 2023 zonal elections, alleging a pattern of marginalisation and internal power plays.
In response, Agwanwor dismissed the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated. He urged Omeje to “seek forgiveness and move on.”
The accusations have deepened divisions within the union as preparations for the 2026 delegate conference gather momentum.
