By Tony Ezike
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has suspended several prominent members, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), and David Lyon, the party’s 2019 governorship candidate. The suspension stems from alleged involvement in anti-party activities aimed at undermining the APC’s unity and electoral prospects.
Alongside Lokpobiri and Lyon, other party heavyweights who have been suspended include Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Power, Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Peres Biewari, former APC State Chairman Jothan Amos, ex-officio National Executive Council member Godbless Diriwari, and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader, Sabi Morgan. Additionally, several ward-level executives were affected, including APC Ward 3 Chairman Omiebi Fuoebi and APC Ward 4 Chairman Claudius Odobu, along with their entire ward executive committees.
The suspensions were announced by APC leaders during separate press briefings in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Friday. Mitin Eniekenemi, Chairman of the APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area, alongside local government executives, handed Lokpobiri and Kumoko indefinite suspensions, citing violations of party discipline. According to Eniekenemi, the disciplinary action followed the recommendations of a committee set up under Article 21.3 (i) of the APC’s 2022 constitution, as amended.
Senator Lokpobiri and his supporters were accused of persistently engaging in anti-party activities dating back to the 2019 governorship election, particularly after Lokpobiri failed to secure the APC’s ticket. Mitin Eniekenemi accused Lokpobiri of instigating legal battles against the party and establishing a factional APC secretariat in the state. Furthermore, during the 2023 Bayelsa governorship election, Lokpobiri allegedly led a faction of disgruntled APC members to support Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a move that reportedly earned him favors from the PDP-led state government.
Eniekenemi highlighted that Lokpobiri’s aide, Kharim Kumoko, was appointed Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa by the PDP administration at Lokpobiri’s recommendation. He stated that Lokpobiri, since his appointment as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has been working against the interests of the APC, refusing to reconcile with the party despite several efforts.
In a separate development, APC Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Ebikazi Gbefa, announced the suspension of David Lyon, the party’s 2019 governorship flagbearer, and seven others. The group was accused of anti-party activities, particularly conspiring against the APC candidate during the 2020 Bayelsa Central senatorial bye-election and supporting opposition candidates in the 2023 elections.
Gbefa cited Article 21.3(i) of the party constitution, stating that Lyon and his loyalists had betrayed the APC by working for Governor Douye Diri and the PDP. According to Gbefa, several of these individuals, including Peres Biewari, Lyon’s former personal assistant, were rewarded with appointments and contracts in Diri’s administration. Biewari, in particular, was appointed Commissioner for Lands and Survey under the PDP government, further cementing the allegations of betrayal.
In announcing these suspensions, the APC leadership emphasized the importance of cleansing the party of disloyal elements as it looks to the future. “As we strive to rebuild the party ahead of 2027, it is our resolve to strengthen the APC and restore confidence in our grassroots members who have consistently sacrificed for the party in the state,” Gbefa remarked.
The suspensions are part of a broader effort by the APC to enforce discipline and restore cohesion within its ranks, particularly after recent electoral setbacks. The party’s leadership has made it clear that no one, regardless of stature, will be allowed to destabilize the APC or work against its interests.
With the indefinite suspension of high-profile members such as Lokpobiri and Lyon, the Bayelsa State APC faces a critical juncture as it seeks to reassert its position ahead of the next election cycle. The party leadership remains committed to fostering unity and ensuring that all members uphold the principles and objectives of the APC.
However, the suspensions also highlight deep divisions within the party, with internal factions vying for control and influence in the oil-rich state. Whether the APC can emerge from this crisis stronger remains to be seen, but one thing is clear; the party is determined to chart a new course, free from disloyalty and internal sabotage.
