Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has clarified that his recent alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) does not mean he has abandoned the Labour Party.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television, Rhodes-Vivour explained that his move is in line with a broader opposition coalition strategy aimed at building a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
“I wouldn’t say I dumped LP. The party is currently split into two factions, one of which supports the coalition we’re building. ADC is simply the platform chosen for that effort,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour, who contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election but lost to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared his intention to run again in 2027, emphasizing that the coalition brings together members from LP, PDP, and even APC.
“We’ve built networks, learned from the last election, and are growing stronger. The coalition helps us reach more people and gain wider grassroots support,” he added.
He also raised alarm over what he described as police obstruction of opposition activities, citing an incident in Alimosho, where his group had paid and received approval to hold a reception for himself and Peter Obi under the ADC banner.
Despite fulfilling all legal requirements, Rhodes-Vivour said security forces occupied the venue ahead of the event, and on the same day allowed the APC to host a rally there under police protection.
“We had approvals, receipts, everything in place. But on Thursday, they occupied the venue, and on Saturday, the APC held their own event at the same location with full security support. The Commissioner of Police must explain why,” he demanded.
He added that over 80 policemen and an armoured carrier were deployed to stop the ADC event, with senior officers citing “orders from above.”
Despite the challenges, Rhodes-Vivour said the opposition is staying the course, aiming to approach the 2027 election more strategically, united, and prepared.
“We are building a stronger, more structured campaign. This coalition is not just about politics, it’s about real representation for the people,” he said.
