APC Suspends David Lyon, Minister Heineken Lokpobiri, and Others Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended David Lyon, its 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial candidate, and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, due to alleged anti-party activities.

Several other notable APC members were also suspended, including Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader Sabi Morgan, former APC state chairman Jothan Amos, Commissioner for Power Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey Peres Biewari, and NEC ex-officio member Godbless Diriwari.

These suspensions followed a disciplinary review conducted by the Bayelsa State APC leadership.

Senator Mitin Eniekenemi, the APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, accused Lokpobiri of leading factions within the party and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket in 2019. He stated that Lokpobiri and his allies were rewarded with positions and contracts in exchange for their support of Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the PDP during the 2023 elections.

"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 PDP and was compensated by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa State," Eniekenemi remarked.

He further stated that Kharim Kumoko, a personal aide to Lokpobiri, was appointed as Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa State.

Similarly, David Lyon and seven other APC members were suspended by the Southern Ijaw LGA leadership, led by Ebikazi Gbefa, for allegedly conspiring with the PDP to undermine APC candidates in the 2023 election. Gbefa claimed that the same stakeholders who worked against APC National Assembly candidates had actively supported Diri and the PDP.

Gbefa also pointed out that Perepuighe Biewari, Lyon's former personal assistant, was nominated by Lyon and appointed as Commissioner for Lands and Survey under Governor Diri's administration.