By Adetayo Omotoyosi Adeolu
Former Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Viviour, has announced his intention to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stating that no act of intimidation will stop his declaration.
GRV made this announcement on his X page on Friday, a day before his official unveiling.
He said, “I will be declaring for the ADC coalition tomorrow. No amount of police intimidation, sealed venues, or harassment will stop this historic event. Lagos belongs to the people, and we will not be silenced.”
The announcement of his defection came shortly after police operatives sealed off Lion Field in Alimosho, Lagos, a venue that had been earlier approved for the ADC to host a political meeting.
Rhodes-Vivour described the police action as “an assault on democracy” and accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of abusing state power. “It is truly disappointing that the Lagos APC is abusing state institutions by sealing off the venue where the ADC was scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow after obtaining the necessary approvals,” he said, stressing that Lagos “belongs to all its residents, not a select few.”
The sealing of the ADC venue follows reports of repeated disruptions of the coalition’s activities in Lagos, including alleged assaults on members and interference with political gatherings. Darelasisionline.com reports that similar attacks happened in Kaduna, where thugs unleashed mayhem on ADC members.
