APC chieftain kicks as party suspends Lokpobiri, Aganaba, 12 others

The loss of the governorship seat it had already won, following discrepancies in the identity of the governorship running mate, may have started having negative effects on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, as crisis may have hit the party, a former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Preye Aganaba are among 14 other leaders of the party suspended by the party in the state for alleged anti-party activities.

Lokpobiri and Aganaba both took part in the September 4, 2019  governorship election in the state.

But a chieftain of the party in the state, Christopher Abariowei, has described the purported suspension of the two governorship aspirants of the party as a ruse which cannot hold.

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Others also suspended are 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 progressed to win the election.

But the Supreme Court stopped him on the eve of his inauguration as governor because the deputy governor-elect Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo submitted questionable certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second in the election, became governor.

In a statement in Yenagoa, 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 leveled 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 leveled 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.”

But, Abariowei said the purported suspension of the duo and some chieftains of the party in the state by those he described as a faction of the party was uncalled for and should be reversed in the general interest of the party and Bayelsans.

A faction of the party led by Jothan Amos and the State Secretary, Alabo Martins led over 27 signatories of the party to endorse the suspension and forward same to the National Vice Chairman of the party, South-South, Chief Ntufam Hilliard Eta.

According to the statement signed by Doife Bukoriibo, the committee objectively looked into the several allegations of anti-party activities leveled against them that allegedly ran contrary to the provision of the APC constitution.

According to them, “The action was to set clear signals to deviants masquerading in the party especially those working against its collective interest and aspirations. We, however, thank Bayelsans and its numerous supporters for keeping faith with the party and for the above solidarity during and after the November 16th, 2019 governorship elections.”

But Abariowei, emphasised that what the party and Bayelsans need now is a united and vibrant opposition to cure the wound of having a government they never voted for.

He said, “We have just witnessed a near success syndrome situation where the Supreme Court painfully aborted and killed an already born child when the November 16, 2019 election won by the APC. That debilitating experience should call for sober reflection rather than fanning the ember of disunity.

“As for Engr. Preye Aganaba, he as one of the leaders of the party who withdrew his case in the court with his support base visibly involved in the process before, during and after the election that produced David Lyon as the Governor-elect.

“His inclusion, therefore, must have been in my opinion a misplaced conclusion on the part of the party.”