An architect and former Lagos governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has confirmed that he will contest the 2027 Lagos State governorship election, saying he is politically stronger now than he was during the 2023 polls.
Rhodes-Vivour, who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the declaration during an interview on SaharaTV where he criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over governance in Lagos.
The former candidate 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.
He added that after the 2023 election, he pursued legal challenges up to the Supreme Court while expanding his grassroots political activities across Lagos.
“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.
According to him, internal crises within the Labour Party prevented it from building on its electoral gains after the 2023 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 the party became distracted by prolonged court cases and internal disputes rather than strengthening its grassroots structures.
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.
According to him, inflated government budgets reflect systemic corruption.
“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.”
Rhodes-Vivour also dismissed claims that the 2023 presidential victory of Peter Obi in Lagos was driven by ethnic considerations.
He argued that Lagos voters prioritised competence over ethnic identity.
“Lagos is unique. Lagosians chose Peter Obi overwhelmingly because they believed he was the most competent candidate,” he said.
“Governance should not be about ethnicity. If someone is stealing money meant for education, healthcare and infrastructure, the fact that he speaks your language does not make it acceptable.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Rhodes-Vivour said his campaign strategy will focus heavily on grassroots engagement and direct interaction with residents across communities.
He said meeting people physically and building relationships would help dispel fears about political change in Lagos.
“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.”
