By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and is set to formally declare for the coalition on Saturday.
“I will be declaring for the ADC coalition tomorrow. No amount of police intimidation, sealed venues, or harassment will stop this historic event. Lagos belongs to the people, and we will not be silenced,” Rhodes-Vivour said in a statement on Friday.
His remarks came shortly after operatives sealed Lion Field in Alimosho, Lagos, a venue earlier approved for the ADC’s political meeting. He described the development as an assault on democracy, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of weaponising state institutions to suppress opposition voices.
“It is truly disappointing that the Lagos APC is abusing state institutions by sealing off the venue where the ADC was scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow after obtaining the necessary approvals,” he wrote, stressing that Lagos “belongs to all its residents, not a select few.”
The closure adds to recent reports of ADC activities being disrupted in Lagos, including alleged assaults on members and interference with political gatherings.
The ADC has gained momentum nationally in recent months after opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi announced their alignment with the coalition, positioning it as a major platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 elections.
