APC Suspends Petroleum Minister, Heineken Lokpobiri, David Lyon, Others For Anti-Party

The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor LGAs of Bayelsa state has suspended the current Minister of State, Petroleum resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the 2019 governorship candidate of the party, Chief David Lyon, and other party members for alleged anti-party activities.

The party leaderships of the two LGAs who read out the suspensions seperately on Friday said the decision came having considered the report of the disciplinary committee that was set up in accordance with Article 21.3 (i) of the party’s constitution, 2022, as amended.

Those suspended from the party in Southern Ijaw LGA alongside Chief David Lyon include Mr. Jothan Amos (Former State Chairman of the APC, Bayelsa State), Hon. Godbless Diriwari (Ex-Officio member, National Executive of the party), Hon. Omiebi Fuoebi (Party stakeholder), Sabi Morgan (LGA APC Youth Leader) and Barr. Peres Biewari (Current Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Bayelsa State).

Others are Mr. Timiondi Fabofieghe (APC Chairman, Ward 3, Southern Ijaw LGA), all the ward 3 Executive members of the party, Mr. Claudius Odobu (APC Chairman, ward 4, Southern Ijaw LGA) and all ward 4 Executive members of the party.

In Ekeremor LGA, those suspended along the Minister for State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, include the current Commissioner for Power, Bayelsa State, Engr. Karin Kumoko and other loyalists to the Petroleum Minister.

Reading out the notice of suspension, the chairman of the APC, Southern Ijaw LGA, Mr. Ebikazi Gbefa, noted that the suspended stakeholders has played anti-party activities since 2020 till date.

“Recall that the said stakeholders and members of the party have been involved in anti-party activities since the Senatorial bye-election in 2020 when they conspired with the People’s Democratic Party candidate and worked against our party’s candidate then, Mr. Ebifemowei Abel. For the sake of a united party, their actions were overlooked and the party refrained from taking disciplinary actions against them.

“In the 2023 National Assembly elections, the same set of stakeholders and their supporters openly worked against our National Assembly candidates.

“In the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, all the aforementioned members openly worked for Gov. Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party and some of them were compensated with contracts and appointments. For example, Barr. 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.

“As we strive to rebuild the party ahead of 2027, it is our resolve to strengthen the party and build confidence in party grassroots members who believe in and have sacrificed remarkably to the party in the state. It is a common saying that ‘it is better to go to war with fewer loyal and committed soldiers than a numerous and uncommitted number of soldiers.’ It is on this premise that we, the under-signed executives of the Southern Ijaw APC hereby suspend them indefinitely from the party.

“Cases of other members who were involved in anti-party activities are being investigated and consequential actions shall be taken against them in due course,” the suspension notice read.

For the Ekeremor LGA, the Party Chairman, Senator Mitin Eniekenimi, while reading the suspension notice said “the Minister for State Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and his followers have been involved in anti-party activities since the 2019 gubernatorial election when he sought to be the standard bearer of the party’s flag but the party members did not support his ambition, hence he lost out and started working against the party, using his supporters to institute cases in court against the party and also establishing a factional State Secretariat of the party at the Isaac Boro Expressway, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.

The suspension notice further read in part;

“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 People’s Democratic Party and was compensated by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa State. His personal Aide, Engr. Kharin Kumoko, was nominated by the Minister for State, Petroleum Resources, (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and appointed as the current Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa State.

“It is on record that from 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. It is on this note that we, the under-signed executives of the Ekeremor local government area APC hereby suspend Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and Engr. Kharin Kumoko indefinitely from the party.

“The Executive of the party in Ekeremor local government is still reviewing other cases of anti-party activities done by other party faithful and appropriate actions would be taken against anyone found guilty in the coming days.”

The both Ekeremor and Southern ljaw LGA executives conclusively noted that the suspensions of the above stakeholders are transmitted to the State Executive Committee of the APC for ratification.

The Southern Ijaw LGA executives who signed the suspension notice include; Ebikazi Gbefa,LGA APC Chairman, October Woyinkeditonmene, LGA APC Deputy Chairman, Amakiri Ayebanoah, LGA APC Secretary, Mr. Living Jackson,LGA Ass. Secretary, Christian Dise,LGA Treasurer, Abraham Fulman,LGA Financial Secretary, David Sese, LGA Organizing Secretary, Dorua Oyeintunumubofa, LGA Ass. Organizing Secretary, Dauzi Agbe Oyinmiebi, LGA Publicity Secretary and Ayibatonye Izeikumo, LGA Ass. Publicity Secretary.

Others are Eric Ebiumono, LGA Welfare Secretary, Oyinki Whitex, LGA Auditor, Princewill Matthew, LGA Ass. Auditor, Joy Steven Asimena, LGA Woman Leader, Josephine Simeon Tondeghe, LGA Ass. Woman Leader, Ossy Isaiah Ekpete, LGA Ass. Youth Leader, Sophy Timidiseghe,

LGA (Special PWD Leader), Tonweriyai Waripamo, LGA Ex-Officio I, Douye Akienkpo, LGA Ex-Officio II, Silas Koko, LGA Ex-Officio IIl and Delta Waminiye Dede,LGA Ex-Officio IV.

In Ekeremor LGA, the suspension notice was signed by Mitin Eniekenimi Senator, LGA APC Chairman and Loki Ebikeniye Misoro, LGA APC Secretary.