Give Me Time, Rhodes-Vivour Appeals To Obidients Over ADC

Former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has appealed to supporters of the Obidient movement to give him time following criticism over his decision to remain in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) rather than join the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Rhodes-Vivour made the appeal on X on Friday while responding to concerns from supporters who questioned his refusal to defect alongside Peter Obi and other opposition figures to the NDC.

Reacting to an emotional post by an Obidient supporter identified as @firstladyship, he acknowledged the frustrations surrounding the current realignments within the opposition.

“Thank you so much for the love, the support not just for me, for the movement, for H.E Peter Obi, but also for Nigeria. Please believe that I will never ever take the support of the Obidients for granted,” he wrote.

The former governorship candidate praised the role played by Obidients during the 2023 elections and urged them to remain patient with his political decisions.

“I understand how you feel and how you see things in this moment. I only ask you for a bit of time. There is so much I wish I could explain,” he stated.

Rhodes-Vivour also drew parallels with his controversial exit from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 elections.

“I remember how PDP supporters on this App ridiculed and laughed me to scorn when I left to LP in 2022. I remember how that story ended,” he said.

He further assured supporters that his political relationship with the Obidient movement would remain intact ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I only ask that you hold on till the end of the month. I promise you at the end of 2027 we will be closer than we were in 2023,” he added.

His response followed a lengthy post by the supporter, who warned that remaining in the ADC could weaken his political chances in Lagos.

The user argued that the party lacked the political structure to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state and suggested that former Lagos governorship candidate Funso Doherty could emerge as the preferred choice of Obidients if he secures the NDC governorship ticket.

“Should Doherty get the NDC’s gubernatorial ticket for Lagos State, Obidients will vote for him. That’s the much I know!” the supporter wrote.

The development came amid growing political realignments within Nigeria’s opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Earlier, Rhodes-Vivour had reaffirmed his commitment to the ADC despite the exit of key opposition figures to the NDC.

“I want to make it clear that I am staying in the African Democratic Congress. It is the platform we have built, the ground we have fought on, and the vehicle that can take us to victory,” he had stated.

The political tension intensified after Peter Obi and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, formally joined the NDC as part of broader coalition efforts to challenge the ruling APC in the 2027 elections.