Rhodes-Vivour Rejects Tinubu’s Politics, Declares ADC Platform For 2027

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has dismissed the possibility of aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s political structure, insisting that such a move would amount to a “complete waste of time.”

Speaking on Channels Television, Rhodes-Vivour said his political ambition is not tied to the dominance of Tinubu’s style of governance in Lagos, which he described as being driven by “agberocracy.”

“No, I will rather go and focus on my business, my work, and my family. That [aligning with Tinubu] will be a complete waste of time,” he said when asked if he saw himself aligning with Tinubu’s brand of politics in the state.

According to him, Lagos must be freed from a culture of thuggery that has stifled accountability.

“This thuggery, where politicians believe that they don’t have to serve the people, instead they rely on violence to suppress and intimidate the people… that does not align with me in any way, shape, or form,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour, who has moved from KOWA to PDP, LP and now the African Democratic Congress (ADC), confirmed that he had joined the opposition coalition under the ADC to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. Asked if he would contest the governorship election on the ADC platform, he responded: “By God’s grace.”

He further disclosed that the 2023 LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was aware of his move to ADC, noting that the coalition represents the only chance for the opposition to unseat Tinubu in the next election cycle.

The coalition, which recently adopted the ADC as its political platform, parades big names including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi, and ex-governors Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola. A former Senate President, David Mark, emerged interim chairman, while Aregbesola was announced as interim national secretary.

Rhodes-Vivour also alleged that an ADC event in Lagos on Saturday was disrupted despite not requiring police approval, while the ruling APC was allowed to hold a gathering.

Since 1999, Lagos has remained firmly under Tinubu’s political influence. Though he left office in 2007, his dominance has shaped the emergence of successive governors. Now as Nigeria’s President, Tinubu faces an emboldened opposition coalition determined to end his political stronghold in 2027.

Rhodes-Vivour Rejects Tinubu’s Politics, Declares ADC Platform For 2027 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper