The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, along with several other prominent party members in Bayelsa State, due to allegations of anti-party activities. Among those suspended are the party’s 2019 Bayelsa governorship candidate, David Lyon; 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 Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader Sabi Morgan.
The suspensions were announced by Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, the APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, during a press conference in Yenagoa. He accused Lokpobiri of leading a faction within the party and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after losing the APC governorship ticket in 2019. According to Senator, Lokpobiri and his supporters allegedly backed Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the PDP during the 2023 election, benefiting from appointments and contracts in return for their support.
These actions were seen as violations of party loyalty, leading to the disciplinary measures taken by the APC in Bayelsa.
“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”, he said.
He continued, “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.
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.”
