LAGOS: Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, has expressed confidence that members of the Obidient movement will continue to support him ahead of the 2027 governorship election, despite his decision to contest on a different political platform from Peter Obi.
Rhodes-Vivour made the assertion during an interview on BlackBox, a political talk show hosted by Rufai Oseni.
The former Labour Party governorship candidate was asked whether the influence of the Peter Obi-led Obidient movement would still work in his favour in 2027, considering that he and Obi are no longer contesting under the same political party.
Responding, Rhodes-Vivour said the principles and qualities that attracted members of the movement to him during the 2023 election remained part of his political identity. I feel that the qualities that movement adopted or welcomed, those are qualities that I still carry. Those are qualities that have been consistent with. I’ve been with them in the trenches,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour said his relationship with members of the Obidient movement did not end after the 2023 general election.
According to him, he maintained personal relationships with several supporters and remained involved in their affairs even after the election.
He cited instances in which he continued to assist supporters, including helping with hospital bills and maintaining relationships across different communities. Even after the election, the aftermath of the election, hospital bills that were paid, and all of that. We built personal relationships across board,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
He argued that his continued association with the values of the movement, coupled with his consistency over the years, had strengthened his credibility among its supporters.
I feel that as far as I carry those qualities and those characteristics are still with me, and I’ve shown consistency, I believe that I’m a trusted figure, he said.
Rhodes-Vivour added: I believe that when push comes to shove, that movement is still with me. That’s just the honest truth.”The political relationship between Rhodes-Vivour and Obi has taken a different direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
In the 2023 general election, Rhodes-Vivour contested the Lagos State governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party, while Obi contested the presidential election under the same party.
Obi won Lagos State in the 2023 presidential election, while Rhodes-Vivour finished second in the governorship contest behind the incumbent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, however, the two politicians are now pursuing their ambitions on different platforms.
Rhodes-Vivour is seeking to govern Lagos State under the ADC, while Obi has moved away from the Labour Party to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where Funso Doherty is the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos.
The ADC is backing former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Rhodes-Vivour has previously said he has no disagreement with Obi, while making it clear that Atiku remains his preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
His latest comments suggest that he intends to maintain his connection with the Obidient movement while pursuing his Lagos governorship ambition under the ADC.
The development could make the Obidient vote an important factor in the political calculations ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election, particularly given the movement’s strong performance in the state during the 2023 presidential election.
