The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the minister of state for petroleum resources (oil) Heineken Lokpobiri indefinitely for alleged anti-party activities.
Also suspended was the party’s 2019 governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, David Lyon; Bayelsa commissioner for power, Kharim Kumoko; Bayelsa commissioner for lands and survey, Peres Biewari; former APC Bayelsa State chairman, 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, Claudius Odobu and all the ward executive members, were all suspended by the party.
Briefing journalists on Friday in Yenagoa, the state capital, chairman of APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area Mitin 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 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 Lyon’s suspension 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.
Both groups said they have referred the disciplinary actions to the state executive council for ratification.
