Kehinde Fajobi
The South-South Zonal Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chukwuemeke Ogbuobodo, and other zonal officers have strongly condemned the suspension of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum, by the party’s executive in his local government area of Bayelsa State.
In a statement, Ogbuobodo declared the suspension illegal, null, and void, asserting that the local government area executive cannot adjudicate its own matters. He urged those involved to refer to Article 21.3 of the party’s Constitution to understand the correct procedures for handling complaints or allegations.
Ogbuobodo warned the local council executive, stating, “They are not above the law and not to see any other person as beneath it; APC is not a party for supermen but a party guided by rules of law.”
Recall that last week, the APC in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor local government areas had separately announced the suspension of both Lokpobiri and David Lyon, the 2019 gubernatorial candidate for Bayelsa State.
He questioned the legitimacy of the local executive’s decision, emphasising, “The decision by the so-called LG Executive of APC is unknown to both the party’s Constitution and the laws of the land.”
To prevent further unwarranted actions from imposters in the party, Ogbuobodo indicated that South-South party leaders would seek to have the APC National Working Committee appoint a caretaker committee to oversee party activities in Bayelsa State until a substantive state executive is elected.
He encouraged party members in Bayelsa and the public to disregard the purported suspension of Lokpobiri, characterising it as an attempt to confuse the APC in the state.
Ogbuobodo praised Lokpobiri for his significant contributions to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging him not to be distracted by the “antics of those who do not mean well for the state.”
He stated, “Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has demonstrated capacity as a minister and has attracted meaningful development projects to Bayelsa in particular and the South-South region in general.”
He concluded, “The action of these individuals was borne out of envy and a wicked plot to destabilize APC in Bayelsa State and the South-South Zone. This is why we condemn and reject the unlawful act, and we urge all well-meaning party members in the county to do the same.”