- The announcement of the suspensions was delayed due to an earlier attack on members of the Sagbama LG executive committee by some hired thugs
The All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Yenagoa Local Government Chapter, on Sunday, indefinitely suspended a former deputy governor of the state, Werinipre Seibarugu and six others for alleged anti-party activities.
Seibarugu, who was the deputy to a former governor and immediate past Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, was also an acting governor and speaker of the State House of Assembly.
There was a mild drama at the Di Crab Hotel in Yenagoa as the Chairman of the Yenagoa Local Government Chapter, Mr Tonye Okokuro, refused to mention Seibarugu’s name thrice until other members of his executive committee compelled him to specifically mention his name.
Although seven members were suspended the announcement of the suspensions was delayed due to an earlier attack on members of the Sagbama LG executive committee by some hired thugs.
Suspended alongside Seibarugu was Osomkime Blankson, Mr Alex Blankson, Chief Olomo Agbama Apina, Dr. Pakinson Mamanuel, Ebiye Waripamo and Pastor Esther Saiyou.
Blankson challenged the outcome of the party congresses in 2022 and has a subsisting judgment which declared the congresses as void.
Okokuro told journalists that the suspension followed the report of its fact-finding and disciplinary committee and there was a need to rebuild the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said, “It is on record that the parallel APC Secretariat situated at the Isaac Boro Expressway, Biogbolo is being managed by Blankson.
“It is also on record that all the aforementioned members have been involved in anti-party activities since the Senatorial bye-election in 2020 when they conspired with the People’s Democratic Party candidate and worked against our party’s candidate.
“During the 2023 National Assembly elections, they and their supporters openly worked against our National Assembly candidates.
“In the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, they openly worked for Gov. Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party and enjoyed the patronage of the PDP government of Bayelsa State.
“As 2027 approaches, we are making efforts to rebuild the party and build confidence in party grassroots members in the state.”
“Based on the recommendations of the Fact-Finding and Disciplinary Committees, we hereby suspend them indefinitely from the party.”
The party last weekend suspended Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the 2019 governorship candidate, Chief David Lyon, and eight others.