POLITICS
Rhodes-Vivour Says ADC Will Contest 2027 Lagos Poll Without Obi’s Support
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African Democratic Congress governorship hopeful for Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, says his 2027 campaign will be driven by community structures and personal groundwork, not by the influence of former Labour Party flagbearer Peter Obi or the Obidient movement.
The two men were on the same Labour Party ticket in 2023, with the Obidient movement widely credited for the party’s strong performance in Lagos. Both later moved to the ADC ahead of the next cycle. However, while Obi exited for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, amid party disputes, Rhodes-Vivour opted to remain.
Channel
In a television interview on Thursday, according to a report by a national media platform, he was asked how he plans to run in 2027 without Obi and the Obidient base.
“By doing the work,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour argued that his political reach and grassroots network are stronger now than in 2023.
“Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of 2023 is not Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of 2026. We have been doing the work, we have been building structures in communities, we have entrenched ourselves. We are standing for the people,” he stated.
He pointed to his involvement at sites affected by demolitions in Lagos, saying he has engaged residents and proposed alternatives. “All the demolitions that have been happening all over Lagos, I have been there with the people… We had a fantastic run in 2023, His Excellency Peter Obi, fantastic candidate, there are no issues between us,” he noted.
“I just felt that Lagos has a peculiar type of politics that needs a broad based coalition across generations, across tribes, across people with different experiences and we achieved that,” he added.
ADC’s Strategy in Lagos
The candidate said he stayed with the ADC because it has built a united opposition front in Lagos, which he sees as essential to unseating the APC.
“We came into the coalition because we realised that if we have multiple oppositions it will be difficult to take out this present government and we have succeeded beautifully in Lagos State to build something that I am proud of,” he said.
He rejected claims that his backing exists only on social media, insisting his support is rooted in communities across the state. He also alleged that the APC held onto power in 2023 through violence, not public support.
“I am not somebody that does things based on emotions, I look at strategy… So, I am very sure that you will see that we will put out a very good outing in this election and by God’s grace, we will win,” he said.
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