The Labour Party (LP) has criticised its former Lagos governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, for defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the decision as premature and poorly thought-out.
Rhodes-Vivour, who contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election under the LP, formally announced his switch to the ADC on Saturday at a political gathering in Alimosho, Lagos State. The event, briefly disrupted by security operatives before being relocated, was part of a coalition of opposition parties under the ADC umbrella aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
In his declaration, Rhodes-Vivour said his move was driven by the need to build a united front against the APC.
“I am happy to become part of this family. I look forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and party structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our country,” he stated.
Describing the coalition as a “rescue mission,” he added:
“Since after the 2023 elections, I have maintained that the opposition cannot afford to remain divided. We must unite through a robust coalition to stand a real chance in 2027.”
But the Labour Party has dismissed his move, arguing that Rhodes-Vivour acted in haste. The party said he should have followed the example of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who has continued to build alliances with opposition parties without abandoning the LP.
In a statement on Sunday, LP’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, said Rhodes-Vivour had “jumped the gun.”
“Our party believes that a broad coalition of opposition parties, anchored on Nigeria’s electorate, is what is required to dislodge APC and President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027. This is the template Peter Obi is working with—without defecting. Labour Party stands firmly with him on this path,” Akeni said.
He noted that the LP had already reached a consensus that no single opposition party, including itself, could single-handedly defeat the APC in 2027.
“Rhodes-Vivour should have taken a cue from his mentor. By hastily switching parties, he has shown that he still has much to learn in his political journey. True politicians who want to serve must learn to ‘hurry slowly,’” Akeni added.
The LP, however, wished him well in his new political platform.
