Bayelsa APC suspends petrol minister, David Lyon

The Southern Ijaws and Ekeremor Local Government chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has suspended Minister of State, Petroleum (oil) Heineken Lokpobiri and the former governor aspirant in the state, David Lyon, from the party.

The suspension was announced by the two executive members of the local government council at a press briefing in Yenagoa.

According to the two council executives, David Lyon and Lokpobiri were investigated with other members of the party and were found to be involved in anti-party activities.

Addressing newsmen, the party chairman of Ekeremor, Mr. Gbenga Ebikazi, and that of Southern Ijaws, Mitin Eniekenemi, said their suspension has been transmitted to the State Executive Committee of the party for ratification.

But in a swift reaction, a chieftain of the party which includes Hon. Ossom Blackson, Alex Blackson, and Orubebe Ogiabiri, said Bayelsa state APC has no valid executive from the state to the ward level after a court judgement nullified the last congress.

According to them, the purported suspension is null, void, and invalid as the suspension stems from a complete misunderstanding of the current situation within the Bayelsa chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alex Blankson, who took the party to court in 2022 after the last congress and won, said, “I filed a case in the state High Court in January 2022, challenging the legitimacy of the congress that produced the current party officials at the state, LGA, and ward levels.

“The court agreed with my arguments, and on January 20, 2023, delivered a judgment nullifying the entire party Exco. This ruling included a restraining order against these individuals from representing themselves as Chairpersons or members of the APC Exco in Bayelsa.

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“1 hold a copy of this judgment, which remains valid and operational, as there has been no stay of execution. Furthermore, the individuals involved have neglected to pursue their appeal for over a year, failing to take necessary steps in the Court of Appeal.

“Therefore, these individuals have no authority to convene meetings or suspend any members of the party.”

Also speaking, another chieftain of the party Ossom Blackson, said that Bayelsa state does not have any valid Exco from the ward to the lever so those calling for the suspension of David Lyon and the Minister, do not exist.

He however called on the President to intervene in the issue of Bayelsa state APC, so the national can work with a workable committee in the state to bring the party together.

Those calling for Lokpobiri’s suspension among other things have accused the Minister of anti-party activities since the 2019 gubernatorial election when he sought to be the standard bearer of the party’s flag but the party members did not support his ambition.

He said after losing out, the Minister started working against the party, using his supporters to institute in court against the party and also establishing a factional State Secretariat of the party at the Isaac Boro Expressway, Biogbolo Yenagea.