Fourteen chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State including Heineken Lokpobiri and Preye Aganaba have been suspended by the party for alleged anti-party activities.
Lokpobiri, a former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development and Aganaba both took part in the September 4, 2019 governorship election in the state.
Other suspended members include Warman Ogoriba, Orubebe Ogeibiri, C.T. Olorogun, Pius Otia, Osomkime Blankson, Samuel Aredeh, Ebierien Itubo, Peres Peretu, Sunday Frank-Oputu, Azikiwe Amasigha and Fortune Panebi.
Lokpobiri and Aganaba challenged the outcome of the primary that produced David Lyon as the candidate of the APC for the polls in court.
But the court ruled against them, affirming Lyon as the authentic candidate of the party for the November 16, 2019 governorship election.
Lyon later won the election but the Supreme Court sacked him on the eve of his inauguration as governor because Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, his deputy submitted forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party, who came second in the election, became governor.
In a statement on Friday, spokesman for the APC in the state, Doifie Buokoribo, said their suspension followed the report of the disciplinary committee set up on July 31, 2019 to probe allegations of anti-party activities levelled against them.
Buokoribo said the panel was constituted in accordance with Article 21, Sub-section B and D of the APC constitution, 2014 (as amended).
He said, “The State Executive Committee of the party objectively looked into the several allegations of anti-party activities levelled against them that ran contrary to the provisions of the APC constitution, morally and good conscience, which brought about great electoral misfortune.
“The action is to send signal to deviants masquerading in the party, especially those working against its collective interest and aspirations.”
