Rhodes-Vivour’s bet: leave Labour, build a bigger tent
The man who rattled the Lagos political order in 2023 has changed jerseys. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has dumped the Labour Party and signed up with the African Democratic Congress, saying the only path to power in 2027 is a broad, disciplined opposition coalition that moves as one.
He made the switch at a packed event in Lagos, calling it a practical step, not a protest. In his words, the opposition can’t march into another election in pieces and expect a different result. “This coalition is meant to rescue Nigeria,” he told supporters, framing the move as part of a larger plan to align parties, candidates, and structures early—well before ballots and posters.
ADC leaders embraced him fast. Lagos chairman George Ashiru called it a turning point for a wider political movement that has been gathering figures disillusioned with both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party. The pitch is simple: build a platform big enough to matter nationally, but nimble enough to avoid the baggage that slows the old majors.
APC’s Lagos chapter waved it away. Their response: it’s just opportunism and a dead-on-arrival realignment. That dismissal won’t surprise anyone at Rhodes-Vivour’s camp, where the 2027 project is already being framed as a slow burn—organize ward by ward, fix candidate recruitment, and crowd in civil society, youth groups, and professionals who drifted from formal politics after 2023.
Rhodes-Vivour has history to point to. In the 2023 Lagos governorship race, he finished second to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, pulling more than 300,000 votes and riding the same urban momentum that powered the Labour surge in the presidential ballot. It wasn’t enough to win, but it showed a coalition-heavy path—especially in big cities—if the vote isn’t split three or four ways in 2027.
Why ADC? The party is small but familiar with coalition politics. In 2018, it served as a vehicle for a reform push backed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement. That push fizzled, but it left ADC with a network that has never fully gone away. For Rhodes-Vivour, a less crowded party gives him room to shape strategy without the factional fights that have dogged Labour since 2023.
Disruptions, denials, and the 2027 test
The Lagos launch almost derailed. Rhodes-Vivour said suspected thugs tried to crash the gathering. He also alleged that local council officials sealed the original venue and that police officers showed up in numbers at the backup location, stirring confusion over whether the security presence was for protection or pressure. He promised to seek a formal explanation from the state police chief.
The Lagos State Police Command rejected claims that officers aided any disruption. That back-and-forth will likely continue. What matters is the climate it points to: tense, suspicious, and prone to flashpoints. Rhodes-Vivour warned again that normalizing political thuggery is a dead end—if violence sets the rules, governance never arrives.
This moment is bigger than one defection. For any opposition bloc to be viable in 2027, three things have to happen at once: credible candidates across states, a clear method to pick a presidential ticket without breaking the alliance, and a shared message that cuts through economic pain, insecurity, and voter fatigue. Nigerians will not buy another vague promise. They want a plan that says who does what by when—and how it’s paid for.
There’s also the math. Nigeria’s presidency is won with a national spread, not just big city votes. Any bloc must reach into the North-West and North-East, hold ground in the South-South, and be competitive in the South-West—Lagos included. That kind of balance requires tough deals: seat-sharing, joint campaign structures, pooled funding, and a common legal team for election day fights.
We’ve seen mergers and alliances work before. The APC itself was born in 2013 from a merger that stabilized candidate selection and messaging long before the vote. We’ve also seen alliances that looked big on paper but collapsed under egos and late-night policy quarrels. The difference is process and timing—start early, set rules, lock them in, and live with the compromises.
In the near term, the ADC move gives Rhodes-Vivour a fresh launchpad in Lagos. Expect town halls in Alimosho, Ikeja, and Surulere; work teams on jobs and small business finance; and a push to train polling agents properly. He says the original event was meant to include free medical checks and job-matching for youth before it was shut down. If he keeps rolling out social services alongside politics, that’s a sign he’s serious about building ground game, not just headlines.
There are headwinds. Labour voters don’t always follow leaders who switch parties, especially if they feel ownership of the 2023 “movement” brand. Some activists blame party chieftains—across the board—for turning citizen energy into backroom chess. Rhodes-Vivour will have to show clean books, transparent primaries, and a platform people can read and measure. That’s the work between now and the campaign.
Watch these markers over the next six to nine months:
- Whether ADC anchors a formal alliance with other mid-size parties, including a written pact on primaries and seat-sharing.
- If prominent figures from the North join the project and take lead roles, not just guest slots.
- How quickly the bloc fields candidates in local and off-cycle contests to test the machine.
- Whether security bodies respond clearly and even-handedly to future opposition events in Lagos.
- Fundraising: small-donor systems, audited reports, and visible spending on organization—not just rallies.
For now, the message from Rhodes-Vivour is unity first, structure second, and personalities last. If he can turn that into a living coalition, he’ll force a real contest in 2027. If not, this switch will be remembered as one more headline in a cycle packed with them.
julia mutambara
September 7, 2025 AT 18:46Seeing Rhodes‑Vivour take the bold step of joining ADC feels like a breath of fresh air for anyone who believes Nigeria needs a united front against the entrenched two‑party dominance. His decision signals that the opposition is finally learning that fragmented votes only feed the status quo, and that's something we can all get behind. By rallying supporters from Labour, civil society, and youth groups, he is planting the seeds of a movement that could transcend ethnic and regional divides. The emphasis on structure over personalities is a mature approach that many of us have been waiting for, and it shows real political growth. If the ADC can provide a disciplined platform while remaining flexible enough to welcome diverse voices, the coalition could become a beacon for hopeful Nigerians. The planned town‑hall meetings in Alimosho, Ikeja, and Surulere demonstrate a commitment to grassroots engagement rather than just headline‑grabbing. Moreover, his promise to deliver free medical checks and job‑matching shows that governance can be service‑oriented, not merely election‑focused. This kind of tangible outreach can rebuild trust among voters who felt abandoned after 2023. The long‑term vision of a national alliance that stretches from the North‑West to the South‑South is ambitious, but ambition paired with careful planning often yields results. By starting early, Rhodes‑Vivour gives the coalition time to iron out candidate selection processes, funding mechanisms, and messaging strategies. The emphasis on transparent primaries and audited fundraising is essential to avoid the pitfalls of backroom deals that have plagued previous attempts. If the ADC can hold its own in local off‑cycle contests, it will test its organizational muscle before the 2027 showdown. The inclusion of professionals and diaspora voices could also bring fresh ideas to the table, enriching policy discussions. While some may scoff and label this as opportunism, the reality is that political landscapes evolve, and adaptable leaders are the ones who survive. Let’s hope this move inspires other mid‑size parties to consider genuine collaboration rather than superficial pacts. In the end, a united, disciplined opposition could finally give Nigerians a real choice at the ballot box.
Nelleke Elston
September 7, 2025 AT 21:00Honestly, jumping ship to the ADC looks less like strategy and more like a desperate grab for relevance after the Labour experiment fizzled out. The claim about “unity first” feels like a recycled slogan people throw around when they run out of original ideas. While Rhodes‑Vivour preaches disciplined coalition, the reality is we’ll probably see another set of ego‑driven power plays once the election nears. Switching parties so close to the next cycle might alienate the very base that supported his 2023 surge. The ADC’s limited footprint could actually hinder any national reach, especially in the North where party structures matter. If the coalition relies on vague promises about “structure” without concrete mechanisms, it will collapse under its own weight. Critics will argue that this is just another headline‑chasing move, not a genuine attempt at change. In short, the optics are shaky and the timing is suspicious.
Shreyas Badiye
September 7, 2025 AT 23:13Bro, I totally get the excitement about Rhodes‑Vivour’s new ADC chapter, and let me tell you, this could be a game‑changer if they manage to pull off a real grassroots mobilisation. The idea of building a big tent that still stays nimble is not just clever, it’s essential in a country as diverse as Nigeria, especially when you consider the regional nuances. From my experience watching Indian coalition politics, the key is early coordination, something Rhodes‑Vivour seems keen on, and that gives me hope :) However, the devil is in the details-like who will actually run the primaries and how transparent will the funding be. Also, we need to watch out for the “thugs” claim at the launch; if security is being weaponized, it could backfire big time. The ADC’s historic role as a coalition vehicle might help, but they must avoid the old pitfalls of incomplete seat‑sharing agreements. I think the focus on job‑matching and medical checks at town‑halls is a brilliant move to win hearts, but we must ensure it’s not just a gimmick. If they can keep the youth engaged and avoid the typical post‑election disappointment, they’ll have a real shot at breaking the APC‑PDP duopoly. Let’s also not forget the importance of tapping into the diaspora for funding and ideas, something many Indian parties have successfully done. Overall, I’m optimistic, but only if they stay disciplined and keep the promises concrete.
aishwarya singh
September 8, 2025 AT 01:26The coalition sounds like a fresh breeze over Lagos politics.
Ajay Kumar
September 8, 2025 AT 03:40Look, the whole “desperate grab” narrative is just a lazy spin; if you actually read the ADC’s past coalition playbook, you’ll see they’ve been dabbling in multi‑party alliances since 2018, which is pretty darn smart. Instead of calling it “recycled slogan,” think of it as brand‑recognition in a crowded market, and that’s a legit tactic, not a gimmick. The base isn’t scared of a switch-political loyalty in Nigeria is fluid, especially when a candidate offers a tangible plan versus empty promises. So before you write off the whole thing as “headline‑chasing,” maybe check the actual numbers on the ADC’s grassroots network; it’s not as tiny as you think. In short, the move is less about ego and more about leveraging an existing framework for a larger impact.
somiya Banerjee
September 8, 2025 AT 05:53Yo, I vibe with the excitement, but let’s keep it real-any coalition that doesn’t put Nigerian sovereignty first is just a playground for foreign interests. The focus on job‑matching and medical checks is sweet, but we need to ask who’s funding those “gimmicks.” If the ADC is serious about building a nation‑wide front, they must prioritize securing our borders and protecting our cultural heritage before chasing donor money. Also, the “thugs” allegation at the launch could be a sign of deeper state interference trying to silence true patriotic voices. So while the optimism is welcome, we can’t let the party become a soft‑sell for outside agendas. Let’s stay grounded and demand that any coalition truly puts Nigeria’s future over personal ambition.
Rahul Verma
September 8, 2025 AT 08:06Everything’s staged the same way the elite want – they let a “thug” incident happen then pretend it’s random while the real power brokers stay hidden.
Vishnu Das
September 8, 2025 AT 10:20Indeed, the pattern is striking; the timing of the alleged disruption, the immediate police presence, and the rapid media spin all suggest a coordinated effort to intimidate opposition figures, thereby preserving the status quo and discouraging genuine grassroots mobilization.
sandeep sharma
September 8, 2025 AT 12:33Guys, this is the kind of bold move that can light a fire under the whole opposition scene-let’s channel this energy into building real community networks, training volunteers, and getting the word out to every corner of Lagos and beyond. If we all pitch in, the 2027 vision can become more than a slogan.
pragya bharti
September 8, 2025 AT 14:46When we talk about coalition, we’re really discussing the art of collective consciousness-how many individual aspirations can merge into a single, purposeful directive without losing their unique essence.
ARPITA DAS
September 8, 2025 AT 17:00One must acknowledge that the very notion of a “big‑tent” coalition, while rhetorically appealing, risks diluting ideological purity; however, such pragmatic compromises are often the inevitable substrate upon which political renaissance is constructed, albeit with occasional lapses in doctrinal fidelity.
Sung Ho Paik
September 8, 2025 AT 19:13🌟 Absolutely! The synthesis of diverse viewpoints can generate a richer policy tapestry, provided the coalition establishes clear epistemic standards and transparent decision‑making pathways; this balance between flexibility and principle is the hallmark of sustainable political innovation.
Sanjay Kumar
September 8, 2025 AT 21:26Honestly the whole “big tent” spiel is just vague fluff it hides power grabs and lacks real substance
Veena Baliga
September 8, 2025 AT 23:40It is imperative that any political alliance prioritizes the preservation of national unity and the safeguarding of our sovereign interests above all partisan considerations.
vicky fachrudin
September 9, 2025 AT 01:53Certainly, a coalition that commits to upholding the nation’s integrity must also incorporate comprehensive cultural policies that celebrate Nigeria’s diverse heritage, while simultaneously implementing robust governance frameworks that ensure accountability and transparency at every level of administration.
ajay kumar
September 9, 2025 AT 04:06Hey folks, just a heads up – keep an eye on how they actually pick candidates and spend money, that’s the real test for any new team.