The All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State has suspended seven members indefinitely for alleged anti-party activities.
The Sagbama Local Government Area chapter of the party handed down the suspension to Peres Peretu, Matthew Karimo, Major Oputa, Tangi Samuel, King Bolouyi Sufadoh, Goodluck Ebomu, and Youdio-Gwei Benjamin.
This development follows the suspension of Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and the party’s 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, by the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. Others suspended alongside Lokpobiri include Commissioner for Power, Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Peres Biewari, former APC state chairman, Mr Jothan Amos, ex-officio member of the National Executive Council, Godbless Diriwari, and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader, Sabi Morgan.
The Chairman of Sagbama Local Government chapter of the APC, Jonah Abeke, explained the reason for the suspension, “In the 2023 National Assembly, presidential and gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, the suspended members openly worked for Governor Douye Diri and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Abeke further stated, “It is on this note that we, the undersigned executive of the Sagbama Local Government Area APC, hereby suspend them indefinitely from the party. Their suspension is hereby transmitted to the State Executive Committee of our party for ratification.”
The announcement was marred by violence as hired thugs attacked the venue, Da Crib Hotel, injuring journalists. The Chairman of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State council, Mr Tife Owolabi, was among those injured. Owolabi sustained injuries to his forehead and left hand, while Jacobson Park of People’s FM 93.1 suffered swelling on his hand.
The attack prompted a temporary halt to the press briefing, but security operatives from Operation Doo Akpo intervened, restoring order.
