Nigerian court nullifies PENGASSAN Chevron election, orders fresh poll

A Nigerian court has nullified an election for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at its Chevron branch. The National Industrial Court in Lagos ordered a fresh poll within 30 days, to be supervised by the South-West Zonal Director of Labour. The judgment also invalidated the caretaker committee previously appointed to manage the branch's affairs.

“

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division, has nullified the September 16, 2025 election conducted by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for its Chevron branch and ordered the association to conduct a fresh poll within 30 days of the judgment.

The court's decision, delivered by Justice Joyce A. O. Damachi, declared the dissolution of the Chevron Branch Executive Committee (BECOM) and Chapter Executive Committee (CECOM) by PENGASSAN's Central Working Committee (CWC) on October 8, 2024, unconstitutional. The eight-member caretaker committee installed thereafter, and any extensions to its tenure, were also deemed void.

Furthermore, the court upheld the validity of the Chevron branch bye-laws from February 10, 2017, as reviewed in February 2022. PENGASSAN's National Secretariat's unilateral revocation of these bye-laws in July 2025 was declared unconstitutional. The election guidelines issued by the National Secretariat in July 2025 were also invalidated.

“

The court also directed the South-West Zonal Director of Labour, Federal Ministry of Labour, Lagos, to supervise the fresh election and submit a compliance report to the court within seven days of the exercise.

The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by seven PENGASSAN Chevron Branch members against the association and its national leadership. The court granted a perpetual injunction against PENGASSAN, preventing them from enforcing the dissolved caretaker committee, revoked bye-laws, or the September 2025 elections.

“

The judgment followed a suit filed by seven members of PENGASSAN’s Chevron Branch, Sunday Ebulu, Ete Oyegbanren, Edwin Koloh, Samuel Akinfe, Fola Oyinbo, Alaba Fadola and Jeremiah Odior, against PENGASSAN, its National President, Festus Osifo; General Secretary, Lumumba Ignothemu Okugbawa; and members of the caretaker committee.