Rhodes-Vivour’s Defection To ADC ‘Desperate Hustle’ – APC

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour’s recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as a “desperate hustle” by a politician who, according to the party, has made “political prostitution” his modus operandi.

In a statement on Tuesday, APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo accused Rhodes-Vivour of lacking ideological direction and political consistency, likening his frequent party switches to that of “a restless frog”.

Rhodes-Vivour, who was the Labour Party’s (LP) gubernatorial candidate in Lagos in the 2023 general elections, announced his move to the ADC at a meeting in Alimosho local government area on Saturday.

At the event that was nearly marred by tension as suspected political thugs reportedly tried to disrupt proceedings, he called for a united opposition.

His exit from the LP comes just over two years after he rose to become one of the most influential political figures in Lagos, with significant youth support in the last general elections.

But the APC insists that his political trajectory — from the Kowa Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then LP, and now the ADC — points to his lack of commitment to any political ideals.

“From his forgettable beginnings in the obscure Kowa Party, to his short-lived PDP romance, to his opportunistic hijack of the Labour Party’s ticket in 2023, and now to ADC, GRV has jumped more parties…from one lily pad to another.

“Each move leaves behind chaos, betrayal, and laughter from the people who see through his charade,” the statement read.

“Rhodes-Vivour is not building a political career; he is on a political scavenger hunt. He is forever in search of the next platform to abuse and abandon, the next slogan to parrot, and the next crowd to mislead.

“His politics has no ideology, no direction, and certainly no loyalty – only the blind pursuit of personal ambition.”

The party also took aim at Rhodes-Vivour’s controversial comment from 2023, where he was quoted as saying, “I don’t think in Yoruba.”

According to Oladejo, such a remark calls into question his cultural grounding and trustworthiness, especially in a cosmopolitan but culturally rooted state like Lagos.

“A man who disowns his roots at the level of language cannot be trusted to honor commitments at the level of leadership. Today ADC, tomorrow who knows?

“Maybe the Nigerian Association of Town Union Criers – anywhere that will give him a microphone to shout slogans he doesn’t even believe in,” Oladejo said.

The APC also mocked the LP’s reaction to Rhodes-Vivour’s departure.

Oladejo said the party should not be surprised, claiming they were used and dumped by Rhodes-Vivour.

The party also made a scathing dismissal of Rhodes-Vivour’s political legacy, noting that history will not remember him as a statesman or a leader.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Lagos is not a laboratory for serial defectors and confused apprentices. Governance is serious business, not a reality TV show where Gbadebo can change costumes every season.

“The Labour Party needs not cry over a candidate who arrived on a night bus, snatched its gubernatorial ticket and left before dawn. We, however, empathise if the party feels used, violated and dumped.

“The question to ask is how will Lagosians risk their mandate with a young man whose only claim to political experience is traversing four different political parties in a short but uneventful political career?,” Oladejo said.

“History will not remember him as a statesman or a leader. It will remember him as a cautionary tale – a classic case of “Not Too Young to Prostitute,” he added.

Rhodes-Vivour could not be reached for comment and is yet to react to the APC ‘s statement as of the time of filing this report.

Rhodes-Vivour’s Defection To ADC ‘Desperate Hustle’ – APC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper