Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, has clarified his recent move to the African Democratic Congress, explaining that his decision stems from factional politics within the Labour Party rather than an outright defection.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, Rhodes-Vivour emphasized that he remains committed to opposition politics and has not abandoned the Labour Party entirely. He explained that his alignment with ADC represents his faction’s strategic approach to building a broader political coalition.
According to Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party is currently divided into two distinct factions, with his group favoring a coalition approach to strengthen opposition forces ahead of future elections. He described the coalition as a coming together of multiple political parties and like-minded political thinkers working toward common objectives.
The former governorship candidate revealed that ADC has been selected as the vehicle for this coalition effort, which explains his registration with the party. He stressed that this move represents a continuation of his consistent opposition stance throughout his political career, rather than the typical party-hopping commonly seen in Nigerian politics.
Rhodes-Vivour noted that ADC has formed an alliance with the Obidient movement in Lagos State, suggesting a strategic partnership between different opposition groups. He portrayed this coalition-building effort as a focused attempt to create a more robust opposition platform capable of challenging the ruling party effectively.
The politician defended his political consistency, pointing out that his continued commitment to opposition politics demonstrates greater stability than what is typically observed in Nigeria’s political landscape, where frequent party switching is commonplace.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress in Lagos State has welcomed Rhodes-Vivour’s decision to join their ranks. State ADC chairman George Ashiru praised the move, describing Rhodes-Vivour as a champion of the electorate who has made the right decision by joining their party.
Ashiru’s comments suggest that ADC views Rhodes-Vivour’s addition as a significant boost to their political prospects in Lagos State, particularly given his profile as a prominent opposition figure who mounted a notable challenge in the 2023 gubernatorial election.
The development highlights the ongoing realignment within Nigeria’s opposition parties as political actors position themselves for future electoral contests. Rhodes-Vivour’s explanation of factional divisions within the Labour Party also sheds light on internal challenges facing the party that gained significant national attention during the 2023 general elections.
This coalition approach represents a potential shift in opposition strategy, moving away from individual party efforts toward collaborative arrangements aimed at maximizing electoral impact against established political forces in Lagos State and potentially across Nige
