Lagos State governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour has launched a blistering on the ruling All Progressives Congress, accusing the party of relying on violence and intimidation to maintain its political stranglehold because it cannot defend its record in office. Speaking during a television interview on News Central, the African Democratic Congress candidate challenged the APC to abandon what he described as thuggery and allow voters to judge the party’s performance freely.
Rhodes Vivour, who has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of APC dominance in Lagos, argued that a government confident in its achievements would not need to deploy violent tactics during elections. His comments reflect growing discontent among opposition figures who claim that the APC’s two decade grip on Nigeria’s commercial capital has been sustained through intimidation rather than genuine popular support. The candidate specifically pointed to rising insecurity across the Southwest region as evidence of federal government failure under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to Rhodes Vivour, President Tinubu has displayed a callous attitude in his public remarks, a disposition that resonates with and emboldens those who perpetuate what the candidate termed a mafia style political structure in Lagos State. He described the APC machinery in Lagos as a cartel that has systematically looted public resources on an unprecedented scale. These allegations, while strongly worded, tap into long standing complaints from civil society groups and opposition politicians who have questioned the transparency of governance in Nigeria’s most economically significant state.
The African Democratic Congress candidate’s critique extends beyond electoral malpractice to encompass broader questions about accountability and democratic governance in Lagos. Rhodes Vivour suggested that supporters of the current administration have enabled a corrupt system that prioritizes political hegemony over public service. His characterization of the APC as a cartel reflects a narrative that opposition parties have increasingly adopted as they seek to break the ruling party’s dominance ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Political analysts note that Rhodes Vivour’s aggressive positioning represents a calculated strategy to mobilize disaffected voters in Lagos, where infrastructure deficits and cost of living concerns have created pockets of frustration despite the state’s economic vibrancy. While the APC has consistently pointed to road construction, transportation improvements, and revenue generation as evidence of competent governance, opposition candidates argue that these achievements pale in comparison to the state’s potential and that corruption has diverted resources that could have transformed Lagos into a truly world class city.
As Nigeria moves c to the 2027 general elections, Rhodes Vivour’s challenge to the APC signals what promises to be a contentious campaign season in Lagos. Whether opposition parties can translate their criticisms into electoral success remains uncertain, particularly given the APC’s formidable political machinery and organizational advantages. Yet the increasingly bold rhetoric from candidates like Rhodes Vivour suggests that the ruling party may face its most serious challenge in years, forcing it to defend not just its record but also the ods by which it has maintained power in Nigeria’s most influential state.
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