The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State is facing internal turmoil following the suspension of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Alongside him, the former governor-elect, David Lyon, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Power, Karin Kumoko, and Commissioner for Land, Mr. Peres Biewari, were reportedly suspended by party members from Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas.
The suspensions were attributed to allegations of anti-party activities, particularly during the recent governorship election in the state.
However, the suspension of Lokpobiri has been swiftly challenged and declared illegal by his supporters. In a press conference, Mr. Alex Blankson, speaking on behalf of Lokpobiri’s camp, argued that those responsible for the suspensions have no legal standing, citing a Bayelsa State High Court ruling that nullified the entire APC executive in the state and issued a restraining order against them.
Blankson warned of potential contempt of court charges against those carrying out these actions and called on the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police to intervene. He also urged the party’s National Working Committee to take immediate action against those attempting to destabilize the party and to appoint a caretaker committee for the Bayelsa APC.
A former deputy chairman of the APC in Bayelsa, Ogeibiri Orubebemienkumor, further denounced the suspensions, describing them as baseless due to the lack of a legitimate party executive structure following the court order of January 2023. He emphasized that the suspended leaders, including Lokpobiri and David Lyon, remain respected members of the party.
