By Akinwale Kasali
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Lagos State Governorship Candidate, has debunked insinuations that he has issues with Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.
Recall that during the 2023 election, Rhodes-Vivour was the Labour Party, LP, Governorship Candidate in Lagos while Obi was the LP Presidential Candidate.
Rhodes-Vivour has now declared his support for Atiku Abubakar for President come 2027.
Speaking on British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, Igbo, Rhodes-Vivour said his primary political interest remained Lagos State while reaffirming his commitment to the ADC and its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I have no issues whatsoever with His Excellency Peter Obi, regardless of what happens at the top level. My first priority and my first love is Lagos State, and I must always make decisions based on Lagos first,” he said.
The ADC candidate recalled that his political journey had previously brought him into the same political camp with both Atiku and Obi, noting that the two politicians had occupied different positions in successive election cycles.
“The first time I ran for Senate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a presidential candidate; His Excellency Peter Obi was his vice president,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
He added that the political configuration changed in the following election, when both Atiku and Obi contested the presidency separately.
According to him, his current political affiliation means that Atiku is his presidential candidate, and he would work to advance the interests of the ADC.
“I’m in the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is my presidential candidate, that’s where I am, so we are going to do everything we can for our party as the ADC,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour, however, urged Nigerians to vote according to their convictions, while calling for an electoral process in which citizens’ votes would be respected.
“Nigerians should vote for who they believe is going to take them forward, and let’s ensure as a people that our voices are heard, and our votes count,” he said.
On the description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land”, the ADC candidate rejected the claim, saying the state had never been one.
“Lagos has never been a no-man’s land,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour questioned the basis for the description, particularly in relation to land ownership and transactions in the state.
“If it’s no-man’s land, who are they buying the land from?” he asked.
He described the claim as offensive, saying it went beyond him personally.
“But for anybody to say Lagos is a no-man’s land, that’s a very big insult. It’s an insult not just to me, it’s an insult to my ancestors,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
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