The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has suspended the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the party’s 2019 governorship candidate, Chief David Lyon, for alleged anti-party activities.
The party also suspended the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Power, Kharim Kumoko; Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Barrister Peres Biewari; former APC state chairman, Mr Jothan Amos; an ex-officio member of the National Executive Council, Hon. Godbless Diriwari and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader, Sabi Morgan.
A party stakeholder, Mr Omiebi Fuoebi, APC Chairman, Ward 3 Southern Ijaw 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 Chairman of APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, flanked by the local government executive members, handed Lokpobiri and Kumoko indefinite suspensions.
Mitin said the action followed 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, alleging that the minister’s actions were borne out of his failure to secure the APC ticket.
Specifically, Mitin said Lokpobiri used “his supporters to institute cases in court against the party and also establish a factional state secretariat of the party.”
He further accused the minister that “in the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State, he led a group of disgruntled party members to openly support and work for Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party and was compensated by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa State.
Earlier, the APC Chairman, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Mr 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’s constitution and accused them of conspiring against the APC candidate in the 2020 Bayelsa Central senatorial bye-election, Mr Abel Ebifemowei.
Gbefa claimed: “Some of them were compensated with contracts and appointments. For example, Barrister 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 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 for the party in the state.”
Meanwhile, chieftains of the APC in Bayelsa State have faulted the suspension of the Lokpobiri and Lyon by the local government chapters chairmen of the party.
Addressing a press conference in Yenagoa on Friday, a chieftain of the APC from Yenagoa LGA, Hon Alex Blankson, said he had filed a case in the state High Court in January 2022, challenging the legitimacy of the congress that produced the current party officials at the state, LGA, and ward levels, which the court upheld his submission.
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