Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State’s 2023 election, has formally declared for the African Democratic Congress.
Rhodes-Vivour made the news at an event in Lagos on Saturday.
The development happened as a coalition of opposition parties formed under the ADC banner sought to dethrone the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general election.
The party officially formed the partnership in July, recruiting notable personalities in an attempt to construct a formidable third force ahead of the elections.
Rhodes-Vivour, who spoke during the declaration, described the move as part of a broader coalition.
He said, “I am happy to become part of this family. I’m looking forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and the party’s structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our beloved country.”
He also called for unity among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is a coalition that is meant to rescue Nigeria. I have said since after the 2023 elections that we cannot afford to divide the opposition going into the next election. We must come together, united through a robust coalition that will stand a chance in 2027 to deliver this country,” he added.
On Friday, Rhodes-Vivour accused police of attempting to disrupt the event, which was set to take place in the state’s Alimosho area.
According to a statement published by his aide, Olalekan Anjolaiya, the planners notified the police about the event.
gathered that security operatives barred Rhodes-Vivour and his supporters from gaining access to the venue on Saturday morning, before it was later moved to another location within the local government area.
Reacting to the incident, he said, “I’m going to address the press later on the events that happened today and those that happened since yesterday. But with this speech, I just want to confirm that I am joining the ADC coalition.”
George Ashiru, chairman of the ADC in the state, said the move indicated the strengthening of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also welcomed Rhodes-Vivour’s defection as a historic endorsement of a coalition that had been in the works since the previous election.
He said, “Today we are having one of the most important affirmation programs, where our coalition partners from one of the key blocs in the Labour Party are joining this wonderful family of Nigerians, the African Democratic Congress.
“We are not affirming one man; we are affirming a movement, but every movement has a leader, and what Brother Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election.”
According to him, the coalition was founded on communication that began during the 2023 elections and has now evolved into a unified platform to confront the current All Progressives Congress.
Professor Ola Olateju, a spokesperson of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also spoke at the event and encouraged party members to trust in their ability to give an alternative for Nigerians.
He said, “We should not look at ourselves as if we are not able or not competent to rescue Nigeria. Anybody here could become anything.
“There is equal opportunity for everybody irrespective of ethnic group, agenda, or class. ADC is not just a political party; it’s a movement, a movement of the people. It is an exodus. We are moving in order to rescue Nigeria.”
