Minister of State for Petroleum Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has been suspended by the All-Progressives Congress in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
Also suspended were the APC 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, 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.
APC Ekeremor LG chairman Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, who made this known Friday in Yenagoa accused Lokpobiri of leading factions and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket in 2019.
He claimed that Lokpobiri and his supporters actively backed Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the PDP in the 2023 election, receiving appointments and contracts as rewards.
“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 People’s Democratic Party and was compensated by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa State”, he said.
“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.”
but Former deputy chairman, APC Bayelsa State, Ogeibiri Orubebemi Enkumor faulted the suspension of Mr. Lokpobiri and others. He argued in a statement that the suspension was null and void.
“For the record, the Bayelsa State chapter of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) does not have an existing executive from the state level down to the ward level across the state.
“This situation arose due to a valid court order issued on January 20, 2023, by Judge L. T. Cocodia of the Yenagoa High Court. The order nullified the congresses of the Wards, Local Government Areas, and the State, held on September 3rd and 4th, and October 16th, 2021.
“The court order also set aside the congresses conducted on the aforementioned dates and granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining anyone from parading themselves as executives of the party.
“To the best of my knowledge, this order has not been vacated by any superior court, leaving one to wonder on what basis anyone would wake up and announce the indefinite suspension of critical stakeholders and respected leaders of the party.
“In light of the above, the purported suspension constitutes a contempt of court and should be completely disregarded, as one can not place something on nothing.”
