The All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and 2019 governorship candidate David Lyon, alongside several other prominent members in Bayelsa State, due to alleged anti-party activities.
The suspensions follow a disciplinary review by the party’s leadership in Bayelsa State.
Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, accused Lokpobiri of leading factions and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket in 2019.
Eniekenemi said Lokpobiri and his supporters allegedly backed Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri and the PDP in the 2023 election, receiving appointments and contracts as rewards.
He stated that Lokpobiri’s personal aide, Kharim Kumoko, was appointed Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa State.
He said:
“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 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.”
Similarly, the APC Southern Ijaw LGA leadership, led by Ebikazi Gbefa, announced the suspension of David Lyon and seven others for undermining APC’s National Assembly candidates and conspiring with the PDP in the 2023 governorship race.
Similarly, the APC Southern Ijaw LGA leadership, led by Ebikazi Gbefa, suspended David Lyon and seven others for undermining APC’s National Assembly candidates and conspiring with the PDP in the 2023 governorship race.
Gbefa noted that some of the suspended members received contracts and appointments from the Douye Diri administration, including Perepuighe Biewari’s appointment as Commissioner for Lands and Survey.
Gbefa 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.”
