A group, Rivers Coalition for Good Governance (RCGG), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State occasioned by a face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

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RCGG, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by its conveners, Mr Soala Jumbo and Mr Inyefi Wobo, said it was deeply concerned over the political crisis in the state.

The group called on Tinubu to call for a new peace accord anchored on the Constitution that would guarantee stability and allow the state governor to focus on governance without distractions.

It stated that the crisis plunged into turmoil following the defection of 27 members of the State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The statement said the clear provisions of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that such defections result in the loss of the seats of the lawmakers as members of the House of Assembly.

RCGG stated that the defected lawmakers had continued to challenge the authority of the duly elected governor of the state.

The group said it recognises and respects the historical significance of Wike as the immediate past governor and now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“We appreciated the President for the earlier Presidential accord which was done as an emergency measure but now need a constitutional peace accord that will bring peace and allow the governor to deliver good governance to the people,” the group said.

The group advised that the new peace accord should at least give way for the declaration of the seats of the defecting members as vacant and the holding of elections to fill those seats.

The coalition argued that the political interest of the FCT minister could be protected by other forms of guarantees or compromises that do not affect governance in the state.

The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended Rep. Aminu Jaji over some alleged anti-party activities and the fractionalization of the party’s organs, among other irregularities.

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The State APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, announced the suspension at a press briefing in Gusau on Friday.

Jaji represents the Kaura-Namoda/Birnin-Magaji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the APC.

Idris said other allegations against Jaji include the engagement in dishonest practices and habitual absenteeism from the party’s meetings and other activities.

He said the sanction was sequel to the notice of confirmation of suspension of Aminu Jaji from the Birnin-Magaji ward APC executives over the alleged anti-party activities, among other irregularities.

Idris said, “The suspension notice was forwarded to the state APC headquarters by the APC executive committee of Birnin Magaji Local Government.

“The state executive committee of the APC held an emergency meeting at the State Party Secretariat, Gusau today, Friday 17th May 2024, where Jaji’s suspension matter was tabled to the state executive members.

“The state APC executive committee resolved and approved the suspension of Aminu Jaji from the party.

”This is based on the recommendations of the State disciplinary committee in line with his earlier suspension by the APC Birnin Magaji Ward Executive Committee and affirmed by APC Birnin Magaji LG Executive Committee.”

Reacting to his suspension, Aminu Jaji told NAN in a telephone interview that all the allegations against him were baseless and untrue.

Aminu Jaji said the state APC leadership has not followed the constitutional provisions of the party.

He said, “This is a clear indication that the party in the state has no focus and leadership.”

Ahead of the Edo State governorship election slated for September 21, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo office yesterday disclosed that it would begin the distribution of about 373,030 uncollected permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) on May 27.

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The state resident electoral commissioner (REC) Dr Anugbum Onuoha made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin on the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Onuoha stated that the PVC collection exercise would be done together with the Continuous Voters Registration exercise scheduled for May 27.

Speaking further, Onuoha said that the statistics of registered voters in Edo was 2,501,081, while collected PVCs were 2,128,288, and uncollected PVCs stood at 373,030.

He said that the CVR and the PVC collection would be a 10-day exercise, from May 27 to June 5, 2024, from 9 am to 3 pm daily including weekends.

The INEC REC explained that the exercise would be conducted in the 192 wards and the state headquarters of INEC in Edo.

He also disclosed that each registration centre would be managed by two officials drawn from the commission and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

“In addition to the registration of voters, the commission will also make available the uncollected PVCs for collection during CVR.

“Also note that no PVC will be collected by proxy. Registered voters should come in person to collect their voter cards

“There will be no pre-registration option because of time constraints,” he said.

Onuoha, however, appealed for the support of the media, CSOs, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in encouraging voters to locate and pick up their PVCs.

According to him, the commission has published the final list of candidates for the Edo governorship election following the conclusion of political party primaries.

A deputy director of Voter Registry, INEC Abuja, Mrs Doris kande-Wyom, who took stakeholders through CVR processes, appealed to stakeholders to mobilise prospective registrants for the exercise.