APC suspends Lokpobiri, Lyon, eight others in Bayelsa

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.

The All Progressives Congress has suspended the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the party’s 2019 governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, David Lyon, for alleged anti-party activities.

The suspension extends to the state Commissioner for Power, Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Peres Biewari, former APC state chairman, Mr Jothan Amos, an ex-officio member of the National Executive Council, Godbless Diriwari and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader, Sabi Morgan.

A party stakeholder and APC Chairman, Ward 3 Southern Ijaw, Omiebi Fuoebi, including all ward executive members as well as the APC Ward 4 Southern Ijaw, Mr Claudius Odobu and all the ward executive members, were all suspended by the party.

Briefing journalists separately on Friday in Yenagoa, the state capital, the Chairman of APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, flanked by the local government executive members, handed Lokpobiri and Kumoko indefinite suspension.

Senator said the action was a sequel to a “report of the disciplinary committee set up in accordance with Article 21.3 (i) of our party’s constitution 2022 as amended.”

He accused Lokpobiri and his followers of involvement in anti-party activities since the 2019 governorship election in the state, saying his actions were borne out of his failure to secure the APC ticket.

Specifically, he said Lokpobiri used “his supporters to institute cases in court against the party and also establishing a factional state secretariat of the party.”

He stated, “In the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, he led a group of disgruntled party members to openly support and work for Gov. Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party and was compensated by by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa State.

“His personal aide, Kharim Kumoko, was nominated by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and appointed as the current Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa State.

“It is on record that since the day he was appointed as minister, he has been fighting the party in Bayelsa State and has refused to make peace despite all entreaties.”

Earlier, the APC Chairman, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Ebikazi Gbefa, and the local government executive council members announced the suspension of Chief David Lyon and seven others for alleged anti-party activities.

Gbefa cited Article 21.3(I) of the party constitution and accused them of conspiring against the APC candidate in the 2020 Bayelsa Central senatorial bye-election, Abel Ebifemowei.

He said “The same set of stakeholders and their supporters openly worked against our National Assembly candidates” pointing out that they also worked for Diri and the PDP in the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

“Some of them were compensated with contracts and appointments. For example, Perepuighe Biewari who was Chief David Lyon’s Personal Assistant, was nominated by Chief David Lyon and appointed as the current Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the Gov. Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa State.

“As we strive to rebuild the party ahead of 2027, it is our resolve to strengthen the party and build confidence in party grassroots members who believe in and have sacrificed remarkably to the party in the state,” he added.

Both groups said they have referred the disciplinary actions to the state executive council for ratification.

They refused to take any questions from journalists.