The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the suspension of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, along with the party’s 2019 Bayelsa governorship candidate, David Lyon, citing alleged anti-party activities.
The decision, which also affects several other prominent figures—including Commissioner for Power Kharim Kumoko and former APC state chairman Jothan Amos—follows a disciplinary review by the party’s leadership in Bayelsa State.
During the announcement in Yenagoa, APC Ekeremor Local Government Area Chairman Mitin Eniekenemi accused Lokpobiri of fostering factionalism and colluding with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He claimed Lokpobiri and his supporters had openly backed PDP Governor Douye Diri in the 2023 election, receiving appointments and contracts in return.
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“In the 2023 gubernatorial election, he led a group of disgruntled party members to support Gov. Douye Diri and was compensated by the PDP-led government,” Eniekenemi stated. He further criticized Lokpobiri for failing to reconcile with party members since his appointment as minister.
The APC Southern Ijaw leadership, under Ebikazi Gbefa, echoed these concerns, detailing that David Lyon and seven others were suspended for undermining APC National Assembly candidates and conspiring with the PDP.
Gbefa pointed out that some members were rewarded with contracts in the Diri administration.
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