A leadership dispute has intensified within the Bayelsa State chapter of the Trade Union Congress following the expiration of the tenure of its former chairman, Julius Laye, resulting in the emergence of two rival leadership blocs.
The factions are being led by Fefegha Edwin and Spiff Tobin, both of whom are laying claim to the leadership of the state chapter.
Tensions escalated after the Tobin-led group publicly cautioned Edwin and his supporters against continuing to present themselves as union leaders during a radio interview in Yenagoa. The faction also called on the Bayelsa State Government to intervene and help resolve the internal crisis.
The Tobin camp insists that a legitimate election was conducted on January 27, 2026, in line with the union’s constitution, producing an executive council headed by Tobin. It maintains that this leadership is the only structure recognised by the national TUC body.
Tobin further alleged that Edwin did not contest for the chairmanship position, claiming he only obtained a nomination form for the role of Public Relations Officer during the election process.
In response, Edwin rejected the allegations, insisting that the leadership dispute arose from an alleged attempt by the national leadership to impose officials on the state chapter after the expiration of the previous executive.
He stated that a congress held on December 4 led to an election on December 5, where he claimed to have emerged as chairman by majority vote.
“Nobody has the right to call me an imposter,” Edwin said. “TUC held a congress on 4th December and mandated an election on 5th December, where I was elected by a simple majority.”
He further alleged irregularities in the delegate allocation process, claiming it was skewed in favour of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, commonly known as PENGASSAN, which he said received a disproportionate number of delegates compared to other affiliate unions.
The dispute has deepened divisions within the state labour movement, with both factions insisting they represent the legitimate leadership of the TUC in Bayelsa State.
