Lagos ADC Welcomes Ex- Lagos LP Gov Candidate Rhodes-Vivour To Party, Says Move Strengthens Party

The Chairman of the African democratic Party (ADC) in Lagos State, George Ashiru, has welcomed the defection of former Labour Party(LP) governorship candidate in the 2023 election in the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour to the party, saying the move signalled the strengthening of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Saturday, Rhodes-Vivour at an event in Lagos, officially announced his defection to ADC.
Speaking at the event, Ashiru also described a Rhodes-Vivour’s defection as a historic affirmation of a coalition that had been in the works since the last election.
“Today we are having one of the most important affirmation programmes where our coalition partners from one of the key blocs in the Labour Party are joining this wonderful family of Nigerians, the African Democratic Congress.
“We are not affirming one man, we are affirming a movement, but every movement has a leader, and what brother Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election.”
According to him, the coalition was built on a foundation of communication that began during the 2023 polls and had now matured into a common platform to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Also speaking at the event, a representative of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Professor Ola Olateju, urged party members to believe in their capacity to provide an alternative for Nigerians.
“We should not look at ourselves as if we are not able or not competent to rescue Nigeria. Anybody here could become anything. There is equal opportunity for everybody irrespective of ethnic group, agenda or class. ADC is not just a political party; it’s a movement, a movement of the people. It is an exodus. We are moving in order to rescue Nigeria,” Olateju said.