A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the 2023 Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has warned that opposition forces would no longer rely on post-election litigation, insisting that the focus must be on securing victory at the polls.
Rhodes-Vivour made the declaration in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led Federal Government for prioritising politicking over governance amid widespread economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
According to him, the level of suffering experienced by citizens over the past year should ordinarily compel any responsible government to focus on easing the burden on the people rather than engaging in political calculations.
“Dear Nigerians, the stage is set. The hardship that majority of Nigerians have faced this year should normally be enough for any right thinking government to focus on governance as opposed to politicking. Instead, they are hellbent on taking even more from the people,” he wrote.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, Rhodes-Vivour said it was time for “clueless and self-serving politicians” to leave office.
He called on members of the opposition coalition to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that they were up against a formidable political structure and must therefore work tirelessly and strategically.
“I urge all members of the coalition to unite. We are up against a formidable force and we must work very hard and leave nothing to chance,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour further warned that the opposition must ensure that outcomes are decided on election day, rather than in the courts.
“Whatever must and will happen on the day of election must and will happen, Nobody is listening to ‘go to court’,” he added.
His remarks follow the defection of former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi from LP to ADC.
THE WHISTLER reports that Obi, former LP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, formally defected to the ADC on Wednesday.
His defection comes amid coalition-building among opposition actors as they position themselves under ADC ahead of the 2027 polls, against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and rising cost-of-living concerns across the country.