- This comes after the APC’s Southern Ijaw Local Government chapter suspended several high-profile members on Friday
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has suspended seven members indefinitely over alleged involvement in anti-party activities.
The Sagbama Local Government chapter of the party announced the suspension on Sunday, naming Peres Peretu, Matthew Karimo, Major Oputa, Tangi Samuel, King Bolouyi Sufadoh, Goodluck Ebomu, and Youdio-Gwei Benjamin as those affected.
This comes after the APC’s Southern Ijaw Local Government chapter suspended several high-profile members on Friday, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and the party’s 2019 gubernatorial candidate, David Lyon. Alongside Lokpobiri, Commissioner for Power Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey Peres Biewari, former APC state chairman Jothan Amos, ex-officio National Executive Council member Godbless Diriwari, and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader Sabi Morgan were also suspended.
According to Sagbama APC Chairman, Jonah Abeke, the suspended members had openly supported opposition candidates during the 2023 National Assembly, presidential, and gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa. “They worked for Governor Douye Diri and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Abeke stated.
The suspension, he said, has been forwarded to the State Executive Committee of the APC for ratification.
However, the press briefing where the suspensions were announced was disrupted when thugs attacked the event venue, Da Crib Hotel, injuring several journalists. Among those hurt were Mr. Tife Owolabi, Chairman of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Bayelsa, who sustained injuries to his forehead and hand. Another journalist, Jacobson Park of People’s FM 93.1, suffered swelling on his hand after being struck with a flagstaff.
The attack temporarily halted the briefing, but normalcy was restored after security forces, including officers from Operation Doo Akpo, intervened.