The National Leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has refuted claims of a leadership tussle within its Benin Depot chapter, stressing that those who recently paid a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, were not the legitimate executives of the association.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City, former chairman and current National Ex-Officio, Douglas Iyike, clarified that a proper election was conducted on September 20, during which Godwin Iroghama was elected chairman along with 18 other officials to serve a five-year term, in accordance with IPMAN’s 2009 constitution.
Iyike dismissed reports about a supposed reconciliation committee, noting that there was no internal division in IPMAN since all disputes were resolved by the Supreme Court in 2018.
He accused certain individuals of trying to undermine the election process under the guise of government representation. According to him, the so-called committee allegedly set up to address a “non-existent” crisis had merely notified members that its meeting was postponed indefinitely, only for reports of a courtesy visit to the governor to surface later.
“There is no crisis in IPMAN. The Supreme Court resolved whatever issues we had in 2018. However, there are people still acting as opposition. We held our election and were informed that further meetings had been suspended. While waiting, we saw the courtesy call. We believe Governor Okpebholo was not properly briefed on this matter. We have a new constitution with a five-year tenure, but those people are using an outdated one,” Iyike said.
Also speaking, Iroghama affirmed that he was “duly elected and officially handed over to by the former chairman.”
