Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has reaffirmed his membership of the African Democratic Congress, amid renewed political realignments and defections within Nigeria’s opposition bloc.
In a Tuesday statement addressed to Lagos residents and ADC supporters, Rhodes-Vivour acknowledged the turbulence currently shaping opposition politics, noting that some members have chosen to move to other platforms.
“We are living through a defining moment. Our politics is turbulent, the unity of the opposition is being tested, and for some, it has become necessary to forge different paths. To those who have made the difficult decision to move on to a new platform, I offer my genuine respect and best wishes.
“These are hard choices, made in hard times, and I do not judge anyone for the path they have chosen. We are all fighting for a better Nigeria, even when our roads diverge,” he said.
He, however, stressed that his political loyalty remains with the ADC, describing the party as the platform he has invested in and continues to build.
“I want to make it clear that I am staying in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). It is the platform we have built, the ground we have fought on, and the vehicle that can take us to victory. It is not because it is the convenient choice, or that the political winds are blowing in our favour, but because of what brought me here and because of what was paid for me to be here,” he stated.
Rhodes-Vivour traced his political journey through different parties, saying each transition was driven by conviction rather than political convenience.
“My political journey did not begin in comfort. From KOWA, where we built from nothing, to PDP, to Labour Party — every step I have taken has been guided by one thing: conviction. And when those spaces could no longer serve the people honestly, I moved on out of principle. Every political decision I have ever made has been rooted in that principle, not in personal gain,” he said.
He also maintained that he has never compromised with the ruling All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, insisting that he turned down offers that conflicted with his principles.
“I have never compromised with the APC in Lagos. Not when it was convenient. Not when agreements were put on the table. Not when billions were placed before me. I walked away then, and I would walk away again. That is who I am,” he added.
The former governorship candidate further argued that political survival in Nigeria requires organisation, discipline, and grassroots strength, especially in defending electoral mandates.
“If you want to protect the people’s mandate, you must have the strength to defend it from the polling unit to the collation centre. Because those who want to take what belongs to the people will not do so with arguments. They will do so with force. And you must be organised enough, rooted enough, and ready enough to meet that,” he said.
He also said efforts to sustain opposition structures in Lagos have continued since the 2023 elections, with focus on ward-level mobilisation and political coordination across local government areas.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who emerged as the Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State during the 2023 general elections, was part of the wave of opposition figures that challenged the dominance of the ruling APC in the state.
He ran a high-profile campaign that drew significant youth support but lost to the APC candidate, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the election.
Following the election cycle, Nigeria’s opposition politics has witnessed increasing fragmentation, with key figures moving across parties, including the Labour Party, PDP, and newer coalition arrangements such as the ADC.
PUNCH Online had reported that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso have formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, calling on members to avoid litigation and focus on advancing the nation’s development.
The two opposition heavyweights made the call on Sunday in Abuja during their formal reception into the party, amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi declared his switch to the NDC shortly after announcing his resignation from the African Democratic Congress, which he joined last December.
