Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has mocked the defection of Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as another display of political opportunism.
Rhodes-Vivour officially joined the ADC on Saturday at an event in Lagos, declaring that his move was aimed at strengthening a broad coalition of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC had earlier been adopted as the platform for a coalition of opposition figures dissatisfied with both the ruling APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during his declaration, Rhodes-Vivour said he was committed to fostering unity among opposition parties to rescue the country through collective action.
He stressed that the opposition must not approach the 2027 elections fragmented, warning that division would undermine any chance of electoral victory.
However, Lagos APC spokesperson, Mr. Seye Oladejo, dismissed the defection as inconsequential, describing it as a continuation of what he called Rhodes-Vivour’s “pattern of political nomadism.”
“He is only following the footsteps of his mentor, Mr. Peter Obi, who is known for moving from one party to another whenever it suits him. For us in the APC, this is nothing but noise. We remain focused on strengthening our party and delivering good governance to Lagosians. He should learn the ropes rather than keep hopping from one platform to another,” Oladejo stated.
The APC spokesman further maintained that Rhodes-Vivour posed no threat to the ruling party’s dominance in Lagos, insisting that the APC would defeat any candidate presented by the opposition coalition.
“If they eventually give him a ticket, he will still lose. The APC will defeat whoever the opposition fields in 2027. Let’s not forget, he was in the PDP, then moved to the Labour Party before the last election, and now he has landed in the ADC. Clearly, this is not about ideology but ambition,” Oladejo added.
