By Charles Olewezi
It was supposed to be a celebration of all support groups for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election. It ended as a confusion.
On Saturday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Jos for the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-Central Presidential Campaign Rally at the Zaria Road Stadium. Thousands filled the stadium. Brooms waved. Music played. The crowd roared.
But inside that one stadium, there were two different rallies happening at the same time — and only one of them won, the Governor’s rally.
For Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the message was clear from the start.
Plateau would vote APC “Sak” — meaning a clean sweep for all APC candidates from top to bottom.
Mutfwang, who welcomed Tinubu at Heipang Airport, told the crowd that Plateau was ready to deliver unprecedented votes for the President in the January 16, 2027 election.
“Plateau is Tinubu or nothing. We are delighted that it was here that the candidate for the famous June 12 election was nominated. Mr President, we are delighted to have you because we consider you a friend of Plateau State and the North-Central region of Nigeria in general. “You have demonstrated your love for our state and for our region through the developmental strides we have seen in road infrastructure, education and healthcare. That is why, by the grace of God, we have been talking to our people.
“We have been talking to our people, even though the opposition has been trying to create a negative impression about the President.”
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, reinforced the message by presenting party flags to APC governorship candidates from across the North-Central zone.
It was, in every sense, an APC event.
The Rainbow Coalition Rally:
But for another group in the same crowd, Saturday was not an APC rally. It was a Rainbow rally.
The Plateau Rainbow Coalition, led by its Director-General, Chief Letep Dabang, popularly known as Masquerade, had mobilised its supporters to welcome Tinubu with a different message:
Tinubu for President!
Kefiano for Governor!
Wike is our Leader!
Chief Kefas Wungak Ropshik, popularly known as Kefiano, is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Plateau State. He is running against Mutfwang.
The Rainbow Coalition, which says it draws members from APC, PDP and Labour Party, believes in a split ticket — support Tinubu for President, but support Kefiano for Governor, following the political model of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, whom they call their leader.
Dabang had posted several videos on Saturday morning urging supporters to turn out:
“All our rainbow supporters, come out in your hundreds and thousands to welcome the President who is coming for this important rally.”
Many of them did. Their banners — bearing the faces of Tinubu, Wike and Kefiano — were visible in the crowd.
Their expectation was simple: Tinubu would acknowledge them, just as he had acknowledged Wike’s Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State a week earlier.
That expectation collapsed when Tinubu took the microphone.
After apologising for his previous visit which was limited to the airport, Tinubu said:
“Forgive me for stopping at the airport. When I last visited the other time, I was limited to the airport. Forgive me if you didn’t see me enter the land.”
He then promised to rebuild displaced communities:
“We will work together to rebuild those communities affected by insurgency. Let’s work together for one country. Your PVC is your weapon and roadmap to prosperity. We will work together to promote shared prosperity for our nation, and the economy will improve.
“I assured those displaced, we will rebuild your community, and we will bring you back.”
And then he gave his marching order — the words that broke Rainbow’s heart:
“Don’t worry about those people trying to perpetrate violence. We will take care of you. There will be a peaceful election. Go out and vote; vote for the candidates of the APC.
“Vote for the candidate of the APC. Sak. You get it? APC Sak, from top to bottom.”
There was no mention of Kefiano. No hand-raising. No recognition.
For Rainbow supporters, the message was devastating: Tinubu had chosen Mutfwang’s formula over theirs.
Disruption and Anger:
Outside the main bowl, tension grew.
In a later video, Dabang alleged that the Rainbow procession was disrupted and warned against the introduction of violence into Plateau politics.
“Nigeria is a democracy where people have the right to express their choice. Plateau State has experienced enough crisis. We will not allow merchants of violence to introduce violence into Plateau’s political culture.”
His supporters took to social media, asking: “Did Tinubu even mention Kefiano?” “Why were we not allowed on stage?” “We came to support Tinubu, and Tinubu supported Mutfwang against us?”
The frustration had been building for days. Earlier in the week, PDP chieftain Hon. Aminu Zang, who rejected his inclusion in the APC Campaign Council, had explained the Rainbow position clearly:
“I remain an unrepentant and committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of the RAINBOW COALITION extraction.
“While I sincerely appreciate those who considered me worthy of inclusion… I remain committed to the PDP.
I am supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, but I am against a second term of Governor Caleb Mutfwang. I support the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Kefas Wungak Ropshik.”
That is the Rainbow formula: Tinubu for President, Kefiano for Governor.
On Saturday, Tinubu rejected it.
Rivers is not Plateau:
The comparison to Rivers State has dominated the debate.
On November 7, Tinubu held the APC South-South rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Rivers. There, Wike — as Coordinator of the Tinubu Campaign Council and leader of the Rainbow Coalition — was the central figure.
Wike stood on stage and told Tinubu directly:
“Not 16,000, not 10,000, but 40,000 citywide capacity. It is good for us to know. This is Rivers State rally. We did not mobilise anybody from any other state.
“You can see with your eyes that there is nothing to say other than Rivers State has already concluded, has already agreed. On the 16th of January, they will vote for you.”
Wike said, “We have not less than 47 political appointments from Mr President.”
Wike also defended the Rainbow model openly:
“We are going to depart from that ceremonial campaign style of converging in one place and saying we are holding a rally. Rather, we are going to go out to communities, to family meetings, to age-grade meetings and to the markets to talk to them vigorously. Tell them why Tinubu should be re-elected. The Rainbow Coalition brings together members of the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party. It is the surest mathematical path to victory.”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara also appeared on stage, in Tinubu-branded attire, and openly backed the coalition’s governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda.
In Rivers, the governor and Wike agreed on the same Rainbow ticket. In Plateau, they do not.
Mutfwang wants APC top to bottom. Dabang wants Tinubu plus Kefiano.
But on Saturday in Jos, Tinubu sided with Mutfwang.
What next for the Rainbow Coalition in Plateau?
As the stadium emptied on Saturday evening and the brooms lay scattered on Zaria Road, one question remained unanswered in Plateau politics:
If Tinubu did not raise Kefiano’s hand in Jos, will the Rainbow Coalition still vote for Tinubu in January?
For now, Rainbow leaders insist they remain committed to Tinubu for President. But after Saturday, that loyalty will be tested like never before.
In Jos, two rallies came to one stadium. Only one left with the President’s blessing.