There were some moments of apprehension when gunmen invaded the venue of a rally organised by loyalists of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), in Bayelsa state.

Some minutes after the rally started at Igbogene in Yenagoa on Saturday, gunshots suddenly echoed in the air.

Attendees began to scamper for safety following the sounds of gunshots said to have been fired from a nearby bush close to the venue of the rally.

After the sounds subsided, the attendees returned to the venue as the organisers insisted on continuing the rally.

The organisers went ahead with the rally after the shooting incident.

PDP chieftains in Bayelsa and other states in the south-south zone, who are loyal to the FCT minister, attended the rally.

The rally is being organised by New Associates, a pro-Wike political group. The convener is George Turnah, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The rally is “in solidarity and appreciation of President Bola Tinubu and Nyesom Wike for facilitation and appointment of notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa into positions of authority”.

The build-up to the rally elicited varied reactions as Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa, had insisted that the event was likely to trigger violence in the state.

However, Wike’s supporters dismissed the governor’s comment and vowed to go ahead with the rally — initially scheduled for April 11 at Tombia roundabout open field in Yenagoa.

On April 3, the high court in Yenagoa restrained Wike’s supporters from holding the rally in the state.

The order was made following an ex parte application filed by Biriyai Dambo, Bayelsa attorney-general.

To counter the move of Wike’s supporters, supporters of Diri had organised a separate rally at the same location and on the same day.

Due to the development, Wike’s supporters postponed their planned rally to April 26 to avoid potential clashes.

The Rivers state lawmakers in the national assembly have pledged their support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The lawmakers declared their support for the president in a statement jointly signed by the caucus members and read by Barry Mpigi, the senator representing Rivers south-east.

The caucus, made up of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers — two senators and seven house of representatives members — said their position was based on the success so far recorded under the renewed hope agenda.

They also asked other politicians nursing presidential ambitions to shelve their plans, insisting that Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda offers Nigeria the clearest path to “prosperity” and “progress”.

“We, the members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, comprising Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, extend our heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his trust and confidence in our leader His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, following his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement reads.

“We are gladdened by the President’s public acknowledgement and commendation of the exceptional performance of the Minister of FCT, whom he described as the ‘Master of Infrastructure’.

“Now, having carefully reviewed the President’s economic policies which are targeted at repositioning our once moribund economy through his renewed hope agenda, and taking into account the massive rot and decadence he inherited on the 29th of May, 2023, including our uneviable debt profile, the terrible inflationary figures occasioned by the printing of N22.7 trillion by the Central Bank of Nigeria through Ways and Means overdraft for the Federal Government between 2015 and 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“And the near-absence of critical infrastructure to support food production; we have come to the conclusion that President’s economic plan is the surest way out of our country’s social and economic morass.

“Further, our assessment is firm that the President’s renewed hope agenda is very much on track with already visible results and a credible basis that offers greater improvement in the economic wellbeing of Nigerians if given the time necessary.

“Still, we are convinced that the declining inflation figures, the substantial reduction in our foreign debt profile, and an IMF-backed promising growth figure all bode well for the economy in the years ahead.

“As members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, we declare unequivocally our unconditional resolve to work again for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.”

The caucus thanked Tinubu for intervening in the political crisis rocking Rivers, describing his actions as a timely move that has created “a path to peace”.

The Rivers caucus also recalled their role in the 2023 presidential election, saying they campaigned vigorously under the leadership of Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, to secure victory for Tinubu.

The lawmakers who signed the declaration are Barry Mpigi, Allwell Onyesoh, Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, and Blessing Amadi.