By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Nigeria: Rhodes-Vivour Rejects Alliance With Tinubu for 2027 Lagos Governorship Bid
Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, says he will not align with President Bola Tinubu’s political structure in pursuit of his ambition to govern Lagos in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Rhodes-Vivour said working with Tinubu’s style of politics would amount to a waste of time.
“I would rather focus on my family and my work. Politics for me is about improving the lives of Lagosians and restoring the state to its true potential. Any party that prevents me from using Lagos’ resources for the benefit of its people is simply a waste of time,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour, who previously contested under KOWA, PDP, and Labour Party, confirmed he has now joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to strengthen the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
He criticised the dominance of what he called “agberocracy” in Lagos, accusing politicians of using thuggery to suppress citizens instead of serving them. According to him, ending such practices is crucial for progress in the state.
When asked if he would run on the ADC platform in 2027, he replied, “By God’s grace,” adding that Labour Party’s leadership crisis had forced him to seek a new platform.
Rhodes-Vivour also disclosed that Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, was aware of his decision to join the ADC. He argued that coalition-building remains the only way for the opposition to challenge the APC in 2027.
He further condemned security agencies for disrupting an ADC gathering in Lagos while allowing the APC to proceed with its own activities.
Lagos has remained under Tinubu’s political influence since 1999, with the former governor shaping the emergence of successive leaders. Tinubu became Nigeria’s president in 2023 and continues to dominate Lagos politics.
