The recent defection of the 2023 Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has drawn praise and criticism.
While ADC leaders commended him for the move, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State cast it as a proof of his “opportunistic” tendencies.
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ADC state chairperson, George Ashiru, hailed Mr Rhodes-Vivour as “a champion of the electorate” whose decision would strengthen opposition politics in Lagos.
“GRV has shown himself to be a champion of the electorate, from when he contested as a young senatorial candidate in 2019 to the Labour Party’s gubernatorial flag bearer in 2023,” Mr Ashiru said in a statement on Tuesday.
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“We at ADC, the home of the coalition of patriots and long-suffering citizens, warmly welcome him, and extend our handshake to others like him and the electorate at large.”
Mr Ashiru added that Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s defection had attracted several Labour Party members to ADC, which is positioning itself as a credible alternative to the ruling APC.
But in a separate statement on Tuesday, Lagos APC dismissed the move as inconsequential. Its publicity secretary, Seye Oladejo, accused Mr Rhodes-Vivour, who took second position behind APC’s Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the 2023 governorship eleciton inthe state, of lacking ideology and direction.
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As Mr Sanwo-Olu’s closest rival in 2023, Mr Rhodes-Vivour who ran for the election as a political outsider promising change polled 312,329 votes. Mr Sanwo-Olu, the winner of the election, garnered 762,134 votes.
“From his 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, Rhodes-Vivour has jumped more parties than a restless frog hopping from one lily pad to another,” Mr Oladejo said.
“His politics has no ideology, no direction, and certainly no loyalty – only the blind pursuit of personal ambition.”
Social media users weigh in
The announcement also triggered mixed reactions on X. Some users welcomed the move as a new front against APC dominance, while others questioned Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s political consistency.
“The beauty of democracy is the freedom to associate with any party of your choice,” wrote @Atobajaye25.
Another user, @AzShow3, said: “Good step in the right direction. Lagosians are tired of Agberos.”
But @emmana… dismissed it, urging Rhodes-Vivour to “go and rest, politics is not about do or die.”
The defection event, which took place in Lagos on Saturday, was marred by violence.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Rhodes-Vivour accused the Lagos State Police Command of aiding hoodlums who attacked attendees at the Christ Gospel Mission Church venue.
“About 20 to 40 police officers came, locked the gates, and said we could not hold our event. They scattered everything,” he alleged, pointing to an injured cameraman who was assaulted during the disruption.
The Lagos police rejected the allegations, calling them false and damaging. In a statement, Deputy Command spokesperson Babaseyi Oluseyi said officers had been deployed to maintain peace in Alimosho and other parts of the state.
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“The deployed teams remained professional and provided security without bias. At no time did officers cover for political attacks,” he said, stressing the command’s neutrality.
Mr Rhodes-Vivour formally declared for ADC at the event, describing the move as part of a wider coalition of opposition parties preparing to challenge APC dominance in the 2027 elections.
“This coalition is meant to rescue Nigeria,” he said. “We cannot afford to divide the opposition. We must come together through a robust coalition that stands a chance to deliver this country in 2027.”
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