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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Crisis has hit the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, following the suspension of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Some members of the party in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas also said the party has suspended the former governor-elect of the state, David Lyon, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Power, Karin Kumoko, and Commissioner for Land, Mr. Peres Biewari.
According to them, Lokpobiri and others were suspended for anti-party activities, especially during the last governorship election in the state.
However, in a swift reaction, the suspension of Lokpobiri has been faulted and declared illegal, null, and void by his camp.
Mr. Alex Blankson, in a press conference on behalf of Lokpobiri loyalists stated that those claiming to have suspended Lokpobiri and other leaders of the party are not recognised by law as members of the executive of the party at the ward and local government levels.
According to Blankson, there is a subsisting judgment by the Bayelsa State High Court that nullified the entire executives of Bayelsa APC and also issued a restraining order against them from presenting themselves as members of the Bayelsa APC executives.
Blankson, who warned that contempt of court proceedings may be instituted against those carrying out illegal activities on behalf of the APC asked the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police to remain vigilant and rein in those planning to foment trouble in the state.
He called on the National Working Committee of the party to, as a matter of urgency, sanction these individuals attempting to disgrace the party and also constitute a caretaker committee for the party in the state.
Also speaking, a former Deputy chairman of APC in Bayelsa State, Ogeibiri Orubebemienkumor, said the purported suspension of Lokpobiri and others was borne out of ignorance.
