The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri has been suspended by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State for allegedly supporting the re-election bid of Governor Douye Diri, who is of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
Chairman of the APC in Ekeremor, Mitin Eniekenemi at a press conference on Friday, also alleged that the minister has been fighting the party in the state since he was appointed minister.
Eniekenemi said Lokpobiri’s close associate, Kharim Kumoko was appointed a commissioner by Diri after he was nominated by the minister.
The state APC chairman said, “In the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, he led a group of disgruntled party members to openly support and work for 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, Senator 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 chairman of the APC in Southern Ijaw LGA, Ebikazi Gbefa, has announced the suspension of the party’s governorship candidate in 2019, David Lyon, and seven other people for alleged anti-party activities.
Gbefa said as he announced the suspensions, “The same set of stakeholders and their supporters openly worked against our national assembly candidates.
“Some of them were compensated with contracts and appointments.
“For example, Perepuighe Biewari, who was chief David Lyon’s personal assistant, was nominated by Lyon and appointed as the current commissioner for lands and survey in the Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa State.”
The chairman said they are working to build confidence in the Bayelsa APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
The state working committee, national working committee (NWC), and national executive committee (NEC) would have to ratify the suspensions of Lokpobiri and Lyon before they become effective.
