Bayelsa APC suspends Lokpobiri, Lyon over ‘anti-party activities’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa has suspended Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, for allegedly supporting the relection bid of Douye Diri, governor of the state, in 2023.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Mitin Eniekenemi, chair of the APC in Ekeremor, said Lokpobiri has been allegedly fighting the party in the state since he was appointed minister.

Eniekenemi said Kharim Kumoko, Lokpobiri’s close associate, was appointed a commissioner by Diri after he was nominated by the minister.

“In the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, he led a group of disgruntled party members to openly support and work for Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party and was compensated by by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa state,” PUNCH quoted him as saying.

“His personal aide, Kharim Kumoko, was nominated by the minister of state, petroleum resources, senator 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.”

In a similar development, Ebikazi Gbefa, chair of the APC in Southern Ijaw LGA, announced the suspension of David Lyon, the party’s governorship candidate in 2019, and seven other people for alleged anti-party activities.

“The same set of stakeholders and their supporters openly worked against our national assembly candidates,” the newspaper quoted Gbefa as saying.

“Some of them were compensated with contracts and appointments.

“For example, Perepuighe Biewari who was chief David Lyon’s personal assistant, was nominated by Lyon and appointed as the current commissioner for lands and survey in the Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa state.”

The chair said they are working to build confidence in the Bayelsa APC ahead of the 2027 general election.

The state working committee, national working committee (NWC), and the national executive committee (NEC) would have to ratify the suspensions of Lokpobiri and Lyon before they become effective.