The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and its 2019 Bayelsa governorship candidate, David Lyon, over alleged anti-party activities.
In addition to Lokpobiri and Lyon, several other party members were also suspended, including Commissioner for Power Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey Peres Biewari, former APC state chairman Jothan Amos, NEC ex-officio member Godbless Diriwari, and APC Youth Leader in Southern Ijaw, Sabi Morgan.
The suspensions were announced following a disciplinary review by the party’s leadership in Bayelsa State.
Speaking in Yenagoa, Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, the APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, accused Lokpobiri of leading factions within the party and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after losing the APC governorship ticket in 2019.
“During the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, Lokpobiri led a group of disgruntled members to support Governor Douye Diri of the PDP.
In return, they were rewarded with contracts and appointments by the PDP-led government,” Senator alleged.
He further disclosed that Lokpobiri’s aide, Kharim Kumoko, was nominated by the minister and subsequently appointed as the Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa State.
“It is well-documented that since his appointment as minister, Lokpobiri has been at odds with the APC in Bayelsa State and has rejected all attempts at reconciliation,” Senator added.
In a related development, the APC leadership in Southern Ijaw LGA, led by Ebikazi Gbefa, announced the suspension of David Lyon and seven others for allegedly undermining the party’s candidates in the 2023 National Assembly elections and working in favor of the PDP during the governorship race.
Gbefa said, “These individuals and their supporters actively worked against APC candidates in the National Assembly elections and openly supported Governor Douye Diri and the PDP in the 2023 governorship election.”
He further alleged that those involved received compensation in the form of government contracts and appointments.
“Peres Biewari, who served as David Lyon’s personal assistant, was nominated by Lyon and is now the Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Governor Diri’s administration,” Gbefa explained.
The APC leadership emphasized that the suspensions were necessary to maintain party discipline and unity ahead of future elections.
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