Nigeria, July 13 -- A power struggle has erupted within the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) division of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Union members are demanding free and fair elections, alleging that PENGASSAN's National President Festus Osifo is attempting to exert control over the branch.

The union workers who do not want to be named for fear of victimisation, told PREMIUM TIMES that the controversy dates back three years when Mr Osifo unilaterally appointed leaders of the NMDPRA chapter without elections.

Although, they said members initially accepted the arrangement due to the agency's novelty, they expected a free and fair election after th...