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.
Punch