Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 Lagos gubernatorial elections, has firmly ruled out any possibility of forming a political coalition with the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the ruling party embodies the very issues plaguing Lagos State.
In a conversation on Breakfast Central, Rhodes-Vivour, popularly known as GRV, expressed openness to forming alliances, but drew a clear line when it comes to the APC.
“I’m all in favour of a coalition, but that coalition cannot be with the APC,” he stated. “I’ve been very consistent in my stance because I feel that everything that is wrong with Lagos State is caused by the method of governance that the APC uses.”
GRV criticised the APC’s long-standing control of Lagos, attributing much of the city’s infrastructural and social challenges to what he described as systemic failings rooted in their leadership approach, emphasising his opposition to any form of alliance that would reinforce the current structure of power.
Responding to questions about Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor—the PDP’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate—GRV distanced himself from any rumoured alignments. “Whatever Jandor wants to do is his business,” he said pointedly. “The APC is going back to the APC. There’s nothing we need to speak on that.”
While many political commentators often draw parallels between the APC and the PDP, labelling them as “two sides of the same coin,” Rhodes-Vivour disagreed, at least in the Lagos context.
“Not in Lagos,” he asserted. “That’s why I joined the PDP in Lagos. PDP has never held government position. The closest they had was with Funsho Williams, and we know what happened to him.”
Rhodes-Vivour stressed that his focus remains on building a credible and independent coalition—one that isn’t shackled by political godfathers or backroom financial dealings.
“For me, building a coalition base that can actually challenge and remove this government so that the people can truly benefit from governance—without any godfather pulling strings, that’s what matters,” he said. “If one has to get into any coalition that limits that potential, then it’s not worth my time.”
As Lagos politics enters a critical phase, GRV’s comments reflect an ongoing push by reformist voices to dismantle entrenched political structures and demand greater accountability in governance.
