Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He made the declaration on Saturday in Lagos, joining a coalition of opposition parties under the ADC platform that aims to challenge the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
The coalition, officially unveiled in July, seeks to unite major opposition forces into a formidable third bloc.
“I am happy to become part of this family. I’m looking forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and the party’s structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our beloved country,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
He added that the coalition was “meant to rescue Nigeria” and warned that the opposition could not afford division ahead of 2027. “We must come together, united through a robust coalition that will stand a chance in 2027 to deliver this country,” he stated.
A Movement Beyond One Man
ADC Lagos Chairman, George Ashiru, described Rhodes-Vivour’s entry as a historic moment. “We are not affirming one man, we are affirming a movement. What brother Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election,” he said.
Professor Ola Olateju, representing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, told members that ADC was not just a party. “It’s a movement, a movement of the people. It is an exodus. We are moving in order to rescue Nigeria,” he declared.
The coalition, he explained, had been nurtured since the 2023 elections and had now matured into a platform to challenge APC’s long hold on Lagos and national politics.
Police Drama and Alleged Intimidation
Rhodes-Vivour accused police in Lagos of frustrating his declaration rally in Alimosho. According to him, security operatives and armed groups blocked the original venue, forcing the event to move elsewhere.
He alleged that “thugs came in, and the police were behind them; a lot of damage was done. My blood sister had to go to the hospital to get stitched up. My aide was hit, and people who were supposed to benefit from the health outreach were hurt and intimidated.”
The Lagos State Police Command, however, denied the accusations. DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, said in a statement that the police only deployed teams to maintain law and order. “The Lagos State Police Command wishes to categorically state that the Command was not informed of any political rally or gathering by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour,” the statement said.
The police maintained that no damage or injuries were officially reported and insisted that their presence in Alimosho was to protect worshippers during a religious programme disrupted by political activities.
Rejecting Tinubu Politics
On Sunday, Rhodes-Vivour restated his stance during an interview on Channels TV. Asked if he would consider aligning with President Bola Tinubu to boost his political chances, he was blunt.
“No. I’ll rather go and focus on my business, work and my family; that would be a complete waste of time,” he replied.
He explained that his politics was ideologically different. “The reason why we’re in politics is to make the lives of Lagosians better, to restore Lagos to its old glory. Any party or any platform that does not allow me to maximise the common wealth of Lagos for the benefit of the people is a complete waste of time,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour also confirmed that his defection to ADC had the blessing of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. “His Excellency and I are communicating, we are aligned, and there is no step that is being taken that he’s not aware of. The only way to have a successful election, for us in the opposition, is a coalition,” he said.
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