Follow Us on Google
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said integrity is one of the qualities that distinguishes him from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Rhodes-Vivour made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where he outlined his vision for Lagos and criticised what he described as poor governance and questionable budget practices in the state.
The former Labour Party governorship candidate said his primary objective was to improve the quality of life of Lagos residents rather than treat government as a business venture.
“My vision is to make impact and enhance the quality of life of Lagosians. I am not here to run a business, I am not here to run a company. I am here to impact maximally the quality of lives of Lagosians and that is where the difference is, and that is where integrity comes in,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour also accused the Lagos government of inflating budget figures, citing examples of projects and items which he claimed were allegedly priced above their actual costs.
“I don’t pad budgets, I am not a thief,” he said.
He further referred to a previously reported controversy over the cost of an air freshener included in a Lagos State budget, saying the explanation that it was a typographical error did not address broader concerns about public spending.
The ADC candidate said his approach to governance would focus on accountability and using public resources to improve the lives of residents.
Rhodes-Vivour also dismissed questions about his ability to speak Yoruba and his family background, saying such issues should not distract from the problems confronting Lagos.
Other News
“I have always said language, culture are extremely important and we will campaign when we need to campaign. But we need to address these issues that are affecting many Lagosians,” he said.
He argued that debates over his heritage or language should not take attention away from issues such as traffic and other challenges affecting residents.
“My family, language, all of that is not going to change the situation that people are facing in traffic,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour also expressed confidence in his chances in the 2027 election, saying he had remained consistent in his ideas about how Lagos should be governed.
The ADC candidate contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party, finishing second with 312,329 votes behind Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was declared the winner with 762,134 votes.
Rhodes-Vivour, however, rejected the 2023 result, alleging that voters were intimidated and suppressed during the election.
He said his political team was better prepared for the 2027 contest and would not be intimidated.
The ADC officially listed Rhodes-Vivour as its Lagos governorship candidate for the 2027 election, with Babatunde Gbadamosi as his running mate.
