The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has derided the defection of the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to the African Democratic Congress.
The party described his defection as part of a familiar pattern of “jumping from one party to another.”
Rhodes-Vivour had formally declared for the ADC at an event held in Lagos on Saturday.
The development came on the heels of a coalition of opposition parties under the ADC platform seeking to wrest power from the APC in the 2027 general elections.
ADC was adopted as the coalition’s platform in July, courting prominent figures disenchanted with the APC–PDP dominance in a bid to build a formidable third force ahead of the polls.
Speaking during the declaration, Rhodes-Vivour described the move as part of a broader coalition.
He said, “I am happy to become part of this family. I’m looking forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and the party’s structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our beloved country.”
The governorship hopeful also called for unity among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is a coalition that is meant to rescue Nigeria. I have said since after the 2023 elections that we cannot afford to divide the opposition going into the next election. We must come together, united through a robust coalition that will stand a chance in 2027 to deliver this country,” he added.
However, the Lagos APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, described Rhodes-Vivour’s defection as a failed move.
“He is learning from his mentor, who is the perennial presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, who finds it very easy to change parties. We don’t want to think about this and be distracted by all the noise. We are more interested in doing better in our party. He should learn the ropes.”
Oladejo said even if Rhodes-Vivour were to be fielded as a candidate, the ruling party would defeat him.
He added, “We are not perturbed. If they give him a ticket, he is going to lose. However, the APC will defeat anybody put forward by the opposition parties or the coalition.
“He was in the Peoples Democratic Party a few months ago, later found himself in the Labour Party before the election, and now he is in ADC.”
