By The Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos state, Gbadebo Rohodes-Vivour, has vowed to remain in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, despite Peter Obi’s recent defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.
Mr Rhodes-Vivour, on Tuesday, in a post on X, stated that Nigerian politics is turbulent. He offered his genuine concern to those who defected to NDC. “These are hard choices, made in hard times and I do not judge anyone for the path they have chosen” he noted.
The politician said he’s staying in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) because it is the only vehicle that will take them to victory and efforts were being put in place to build the party. He highlighted that it’s not because of the conveniency in the party but prices were being paid which supported his political career.
He cited his commitment to his conviction while narrating his political journey from KOWA to PDP, PDP to APC and APC to LP, “every step I have taken has been guided by one thing: conviction. And when those spaces could no longer serve the people I move out of the principle.” He further noted that his political decisions emanated from those principles and not for personal gains.
Mr Rhodes-Vivour narrated what he experienced when he declared for the ADC in Lagos, “the All Progressive Congress (APC) came with violence. They came to intimidate, suppress and send a message about who owns Lagos. Nine people were injured that day. Nine people who came out in good faith because they believed that something different was possible for Lagos.” he added.
Mr Rhodes-Vivour said he would never forget his experience during the 2023 general elections, when his supporters and polling unit agents were allegedly brutalised by thugs linked to the All Progressive Congress (APC)
“In 2023, something powerful happened and we all witnessed it. We witnessed people rise, people believed. Unfortunately, those same people paid the price. Lives were lost, many were injured, all because they stood for democracy, because they stood for me, because they believed their votes should count.”
I did not sit back. I went to them. I spent two months visiting hospitals. I saw pain. I saw their sacrifice and I learned something that would never leave me. Those pictures are posted and pinned on my Twitter. So I’m reminded every day for the last three years” he said.
He further noted that to protect people’s mandate one must wield the strength to defend it from the polling unit to the collaboration centre. He advised that winning elections required an organized structure because “those who wants to take what belongs to the people will not do so with arguments. They will do so with force” he added.
