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2023 LAGOS LABOUR Party Guber Aspirant, GBADEBO VIVOUR-RHODES
Gbadebo Vivour-Rhodes, a prominent Lagos-based politician and activist, was the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the Lagos State governorship in the 2023 elections. Despite a strong campaign, he lost to the incumbent governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In an exclusive interview with City People during the 60th birthday and book launch of renowned journalist Ruben Abati in Lagos, Vivour-Rhodes opened up about his political journey, post-election engagements, and the reasons behind his decision to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Good day. How are you?” he began warmly. “I’m very fine. There’s something people usually say, or should I say, have been going around. Ever since the last election, people say you weren’t calm, nobody heard your voice. That’s rubbish. That’s absolute rubbish. Anybody that says that is either under a rock or they don’t watch Nigerian TV. Lagos has not seen opposition like this since Funsho Williams.”
Vivour-Rhodes stressed that his activism did not end with the elections. “On every topic, we’ve issued statements. We’ve held the government accountable. At every demolition, I’ve been there speaking out for the people. We have our micro-health insurance program, which we go around giving citizens of Lagos for free. We’ve exposed how the government has been diverting money to fund personal programs and legal issues using Lagos State funds. We’ve been on it. I don’t know what anybody with that kind of mindset is talking about.”
He also spoke about intimidation he and his supporters faced. “The last time people say they saw me was at the Lagos Stocks gathering. That doesn’t make sense. I was on national TV when I declared for ADC. But the police commissioner and thugs came to destroy and scatter the place. They tried to intimidate me and my people just because we were declaring our intention. Despite that, I was on prime-time channels, back-to-back on radio and TV. That is very strange, but we have remained unshaken.”
On why he joined ADC, Vivour-Rhodes explained, “ADC’s constitution strictly rejects godfatherism. It’s a very pro-youth, pro-people party, and that’s something that really attracts me. Aside from that, it’s also for very practical reasons. No single party can face the ruling party alone. We need a coalition, a coming together. I’ve been saying this since 2023.”
He confirmed his future political ambitions: “Yes, I’m running for governor of Lagos in 2027.” Asked how he plans to maintain support after leaving LP, he said, “I don’t mean to convince them. I’m with them. We are together. We are one. As I’ve moved, they have moved. It’s not a one-man thing. It’s a movement. It’s a party powered by the people. We’ll carry them along. We have structures all across the state, right down to the community level. All is well, all is good.”
Vivour-Rhodes also spoke on issues of governance and national unity. “It should never be in our long-term interest for our sovereignty to be destroyed. At the same time, we must define what sovereignty means. A government that discriminates against its own citizens is not sovereign. A government that engages in violence against the opposition is not sovereign. A government that is not visionary enough to ensure that its president can get treatment in his own country is not sovereign. The government must sit up, put people first, ensure the opposition is not discriminated against, and guarantee that no tribe feels marginalized. Christians and Muslims should be able to live in harmony. That upholds the values we need.”
On the wave of defections to the ruling party, he added, “Funny enough, all they are bringing down is mass defection. Is that how democracy should be run? There are several reasons for it. For one, the PDP has completely destroyed its platform as a credible opposition. So any governor seeking a second term has had to move, because there’s no guarantee they will be credible or able to emerge as candidates. But yes, it’s very important to have a strong opposition. I’m hoping that as ADC grows stronger and unites, we’ll be that alternative for the people of Lagos.”
Since the 2023 elections, Vivour-Rhodes has remained actively involved in civic and political initiatives. He continues to advocate for transparency, community health programs, and citizen empowerment across Lagos State. His move to ADC reflects both his commitment to youth- and people-centered politics and his broader vision for a united, accountable, and effective opposition in the state, even in the face of intimidation and obstruction.
–Benprince Ezeh
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