Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has declared that he can win the 2027 election without the political influence of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and the Obidient movement. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Rhodes-Vivour dismissed suggestions that Obi’s departure from the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) would weaken his chances, insisting that his grassroots structures and community engagement had grown significantly since the 2023 election.
Rhodes-Vivour and Obi were key figures in the Labour Party during the 2023 general elections, where the Obidient movement played a major role in the party’s strong performance in both the presidential and Lagos governorship contests. The duo later joined the ADC with the hope of working together ahead of the 2027 elections. However, internal legal disputes within the ADC forced Obi to leave for the NDC, while Rhodes-Vivour chose to remain.
When asked how he intended to contest the governorship without Obi’s support, Rhodes-Vivour’s response was brief and direct: “By doing the work.” He argued that his political strength has grown considerably since the last election, noting that his team has spent the past few years building structures across communities in Lagos. “Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of 2023 is not Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of 2026. We have been doing the work, we have been building structures in communities, we have entrenched ourselves. We are standing for the people,” he said.
He cited his involvement in issues affecting residents, including the demolition of properties in different parts of the state, as proof of his deepened connection with the people. According to him, he has provided options and a vision for a new type of Lagos that works for its residents and prioritises their welfare. “All the demolitions that have been happening all over Lagos, I have been there with the people, I have provided options, what people can look at and see a new type of Lagos, a Lagos that works for them and prioritises them,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour praised Obi for his role during the 2023 elections, describing him as a “fantastic candidate,” while insisting there was no disagreement between them. “We had a fantastic run in 2023, His Excellency Peter Obi, fantastic candidate, there are no issues between us,” he stated. However, he maintained that Lagos politics requires a broad coalition that cuts across ethnic, generational, and political divides, adding that such an approach would provide a stronger platform for challenging the ruling government.
Explaining his decision to remain in the ADC, Rhodes-Vivour said the opposition coalition already established in Lagos offers the best opportunity to unseat the incumbent administration. “We came into the coalition because we realised that if we have multiple oppositions it will be difficult to take out this present government and we have succeeded beautifully in Lagos State to build something that I am proud of,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that his political strength exists only on social media, insisting that he enjoys widespread grassroots support across Lagos communities. He also alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) retained control of Lagos in the 2023 election through violence rather than public support. “I am not somebody that does things based on emotions, I look at strategy, I think thoroughly before a decision is made. So, I am very sure that you will see that we will put out a very good outing in this election and by God’s grace, we will win,” he concluded.
Rhodes-Vivour’s comments come as opposition parties continue to reposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Lagos expected to remain one of the country’s most closely contested political battlegrounds.
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