- Rhodes-Vivour Declares Interest In 2027 Lagos Governorship Race
- Former candidate says he is politically stronger than during 2023 race.
- He criticises Lagos government policies and calls for stronger opposition unity
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, an architect and former Lagos governorship candidate, has said that he will contest the 2027 Lagos State governorship election, declaring that he is politically stronger now than he was during the 2023 polls.
Rhodes-Vivour, who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress, made the declaration during an interview on SaharaTV, where he criticised the governance of Lagos State under the All Progressives Congress.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that he said his intention to run again had been clear since 2024.
“Why do people keep asking the same question? Everyone knows I’m running. I have been saying since 2024 that by God’s grace I will run again,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
The former candidate explained that after the 2023 election, he continued his political engagement and pursued legal action over the outcome of the polls.
“We built a lot of momentum in 2023 and I did not go silent after the election. I went all the way to the Supreme Court challenging INEC’s declaration. Since then, we’ve been building our community presence across Lagos State through micro-health insurance programmes and grassroots engagement. Politically, I am stronger today than I was in 2023,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour said his decision to leave the Labour Party was driven by the need for opposition parties to unite ahead of future elections.
“Since 2023, I have said that we cannot afford to divide the opposition. When the opposition is fragmented, it leaves room for electoral manipulation because the forces that should unite to prevent it are divided,” he said.
He added that prolonged internal disputes and court cases weakened the party’s ability to consolidate the gains made during the 2023 elections.
The former governorship candidate also criticised the Lagos State Government over demolition exercises and the alleged lack of housing policies for low income residents. He cited communities such as Makoko and Ilasan where residents were reportedly displaced.
“There is no plan for the poor in Lagos. Over 70 percent of Lagos residents are poor, yet the government keeps demolishing homes without resettlement plans,” he said.
“The most dangerous human being is someone who has nothing left to lose. When people’s homes are destroyed and there is no alternative housing, you are creating social instability.”
Rhodes-Vivour also accused members of the Lagos State House of Assembly of financial mismanagement in public procurement.
“A generator that should cost about ₦16 million is being budgeted for ₦130 million. A car that costs ₦30 or ₦40 million is budgeted for ₦450 million,” he alleged.
“If you take just ₦1 billion and invest it properly in education or healthcare at the local government level, people will feel the impact. But these funds are simply being shared.
“Lagos is unique. Lagosians chose Peter Obi overwhelmingly because they believed he was the most competent candidate,
“Because APC has controlled Lagos for so long, there is genuine fear about what will happen if someone else takes charge,” he said.
“When people meet you and know who you are, that fear begins to disappear. That is why we are building strong relationships at the grassroots level.”
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