Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has declared that he would rather quit politics than align with the political ideology of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Rhodes-Vivour made the statement on Channels Television’s Politics Today following his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He explained that his political philosophy is fundamentally different from Tinubu’s, stressing that he is focused on serving Lagosians and restoring the state to its former glory.
“The reason we are in politics is to make the lives of Lagosians better and to maximise the common wealth of Lagos for the benefit of the people. Any party or platform that does not allow me to achieve this is a waste of time,” he said.
When asked if joining forces with Tinubu would help him achieve his governorship ambition, Rhodes-Vivour firmly rejected the idea.
“No. I’ll rather focus on my business, work, and family. Aligning with that type of politics would be a complete waste of time,” he stated.
The former LP candidate said he joined the ADC because it has a strong structure capable of supporting grassroots mobilisation, noting that stability and a clear focus were essential ahead of the next election.
He also disclosed that he had consulted and received approval from Peter Obi before making the move.
“His Excellency and I are aligned. A representative of his was present at my declaration. We all agree that the only way the opposition can succeed is through a coalition, regardless of current affiliations,” Rhodes-Vivour revealed.
Alleged Attack on Supporters
Rhodes-Vivour further alleged that his supporters were attacked in Alimosho while police officers looked on.
According to him, his team had booked Lion Field for a programme and notified the police as required. However, he claimed that on the eve of the event, thugs allegedly led by the local government chairman invaded the venue with armed men, destroying property and injuring attendees.
“The police were there, but instead of protecting us, they stood behind the thugs. My sister had to be hospitalised and stitched, my aide was hit, and those who came for the health outreach were assaulted and intimidated,” he alleged.
Police Denial
The Lagos State Police Command denied the accusations, saying their deployment to Alimosho was purely to maintain law and order.
“Our personnel were sent to patrol the area to protect lives and property, not to support any political group or disrupt events,” the police said in a statement.
The command added that Rhodes-Vivour’s group failed to formally notify them about the event and that no official complaint had been lodged regarding the alleged attack.
