The National Patriotic Front for Tinubu (NPFFT) has called for an independent review of the 2026 promotion exercise of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The group made the demand following an allegation that none of the 106 staff promoted by the commission was an indigene of Cross River State.

Its Director-General, Mr Castro Ezama, made the call at a world press conference in Calabar, saying the reported outcome required clarification from the commission.

Ezama said Cross River indigenes were among staff considered for promotion across four management cadres but none reportedly appeared on the final list.

The cadres covered promotions from Manager to Senior Manager, Senior Manager to Assistant Director, Assistant Director to Deputy Director and Deputy Director to Director.

He stressed that the group was not seeking preferential treatment based on state of origin, saying promotions should be determined by competence, performance, experience and approved assessment criteria.

However, he said the alleged exclusion of Cross River indigenes, despite the reported promotion of staff from other South-South states, raised questions about equal opportunity and transparency.

Ezama claimed that at least seven Cross River indigenes were due for promotion but were unsuccessful, and called on the NUPRC to publish relevant records to clarify the outcome.

The group asked the commission to provide a state-by-state and cadre-by-cadre breakdown of eligible, assessed and successful officers, alongside the criteria, scores and moderation process used.

It also urged the Federal Character Commission to examine the state distribution of the promotions and determine whether applicable federal character requirements were observed.

The group further called on relevant Senate committees overseeing petroleum resources to obtain the promotion records and exercise their oversight responsibilities.

Ezama said the demand was not an attack on the NUPRC but a call for facts and accountability, adding that any established error or procedural failure should be corrected.