The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, along with its 2019 Bayelsa governorship candidate, David Lyon, for alleged anti-party activities.
In addition to Lokpobiri and Lyon, several notable individuals were also suspended, including Kharim Kumoko, the Commissioner for Power; Peres Biewari, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey; former state APC chairman Jothan Amos; NEC ex-officio member Godbless Diriwari; and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader Sabi Morgan. These actions followed a disciplinary review by the APC leadership in Bayelsa State.
Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, announced the suspensions in Yenagoa, accusing Lokpobiri of leading factions and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after losing his bid for the APC governorship ticket in 2019. Lokpobiri and his supporters were said to have supported Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the PDP during the 2023 election in exchange for appointments and contracts.
Senator Eniekenemi stated, “In the 2023 gubernatorial election, he led a faction to support Gov. Douye Diri and received rewards from the PDP-led government, including appointing his aide, Kharim Kumoko, as Commissioner for Power.”
Similarly, APC Southern Ijaw LGA leadership, led by Ebikazi Gbefa, announced the suspension of David Lyon and seven others for working against APC’s National Assembly candidates and conspiring with the PDP in the 2023 election. Gbefa noted that Lyon’s personal assistant, Peres Biewari, was appointed Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the Diri administration as part of these arrangements.