BREAKING: APC suspends minister of state for petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and its 2019 Bayelsa governorship candidate, David Lyon, over alleged anti-party activities.

In addition to Lokpobiri and Lyon, several key figures, 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 Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader Sabi Morgan, were also suspended.

The suspensions followed a disciplinary review conducted by the party’s leadership in Bayelsa State.

Announcing the decision in Yenagoa, Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, accused Lokpobiri of leading factions and working with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket in 2019.

He alleged that Lokpobiri and his supporters actively supported Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the PDP in the 2023 election, receiving appointments and contracts as rewards.

His words, “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.

“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.

“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.”