The leadership tussle rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Ughelli North Branch B has deepened, as Chief Akporobo Ighovoja, Assistant Secretary and Taskforce Head of the branch, has publicly condemned the alleged expulsion of Comrade Solomon Esharive, Chairman of the Otovwodo Motor Park unit, describing the move as unconstitutional and without legal merit.
Chief Ighovoja’s strong reaction came in response to recent social media publications — originating from anonymous and unverified sources — claiming that Comrade Esharive had been expelled amid mounting internal disagreements within the union.
Speaking to journalists, Chief Ighovoja vehemently dismissed the allegations, stating that, “I strongly condemn the publication aimed at defaming the character and integrity of our NURTW Ughelli North Branch B Chairman, Comrade Solomon Esharive. The purported expulsion is baseless, unlawful, and a deliberate attempt to undermine his leadership.”
He went further to describe the allegations against the Chairman as fabricated and politically motivated, likening the situation to the age-old adage of “giving a dog a bad name to hang it.” According to him, the accusations are part of a premeditated plot to unseat Comrade Esharive.
Highlighting the union’s constitutional framework, Chief Ighovoja emphasized that disciplinary actions against any officer must follow strict due process — a responsibility exclusively reserved for the State Council of NURTW, not the unit executives or local community members.
“There is a constitution guiding the union’s operations. Any disciplinary process outside this framework is illegal and nullifies the actions taken. The Otovwodo unit executive lacks the jurisdiction to expel the Chairman,” he clarified.
Chief Ighovoja further decried the involvement of the local community in what he insists is an internal union matter. Drawing parallels, he said: “Just as the community does not meddle in the affairs of other unions such as NUT and NUPENG, it should similarly refrain from interfering in NURTW’s internal issues. The State Council is handling the matter.”
The leadership crisis is currently before the State Council, which has convened a meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Asaba to deliberate on the dispute and chart a path to resolution. All parties involved, including the Ughelli North Branch B executives and the Otovwodo unit executive, have been officially summoned.
A letter of invitation, signed by the State Secretary of the Union, Jibril Yemi, was obtained by this medium, confirming the meeting and the Council’s intent to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of NURTW has reportedly distanced both himself and the state executive from the contested expulsion of Comrade Solomon Esharive, signaling disapproval of unilateral actions taken outside established protocols.
Chief Ighovoja, however, urged all stakeholders and union members to remain calm and await the outcome of the State Council’s deliberations, appealing for peace and adherence to the union’s constitution as the foundation for resolving the crisis.
