Lagos Ex-LP Guber Candidate, Rhodes-Vivour, Joins ADC, Condemns Sealing of Venue of Party’s Meeting by Police

Segun James

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, yesterday formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring that the party represents a strong coalition to rescue Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking shortly after his defection, Rhodes-Vivour said: “We are not holding a political rally but a political meeting, which we have constitutional rights to do. “However, we will meet with the Commissioner of Police to know why his men are here and whether they are carrying out their duty of providing us protection or otherwise.”
He stressed that his decision to join ADC was rooted in the need to unite the opposition.

“This coalition is meant to rescue Nigeria. Since the 2023 elections, I have said we cannot afford to divide the opposition ahead of 2027. We must come together through a robust, strong coalition that can deliver Nigeria from those who hold power through thuggery, violence, and intimidation,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour added that if such practices continue unchecked, governance will remain ineffective, leaving the people without a voice.

“I am happy to become part of this family. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders the wisdom to come together and define a new path for Nigeria,” he concluded.
Earlier, the ADC Chairman in Lagos, Mr. George Ashiru, described the defection as a significant step in building a broad-based coalition.

“We are not affirming one man; we are affirming a movement. What Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election. The coalition did not start three months ago—it began two years ago, and today we are celebrating it,” Ashiru said.
He added that ADC’s vision is for “a global Lagos — Lagos for everybody, where citizens and their children have opportunities for the future.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, represented at the event by Professor Ola Olateju, commended the coalition-building efforts, saying ADC represents more than a political party.
“ADC is not just a political party; it is a movement of the people. With this philosophy, anybody can become anything irrespective of ethnic group, religion, or class,” he said.

Meanwhile, while reacting to sealing off the venue of a planned ADC meeting in the state by the police, Rhodes-Viviour expressed disappointment, saying: “We are not holding a political rally but a political meeting, which we have constitutional rights to do.

He added that his decision to join the ADC coalition was to build a united opposition ahead of 2027.

“I am joining the ADC coalition to stand a chance in 2027 to deliver and rescue Nigeria from those who have refused to give us governance but instead seek to maintain power through violence and intimidation,” he stated.