The 2023 Governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in Lagos State, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has described the sealing-off of the venue of a scheduled meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Alimosho, Lagos State by All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled security operatives as “a clear indication of fear of defeat and total rejection of the people,” ahead of 2027.
This was as Rhoides-Vivour strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for sending security operatives to barricade the premises of the ADC meeting despite prior approvals secured by the organisers.
He particularly accused Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu of abusing state power to intimidate political rivals, warning that such undemocratic practices could plunge Lagos into deeper political crisis.
Rhodes-Vivour, who announced his aligning with the ADC, pointedly said that the action was a direct attack on democracy and a calculated attempt by the APC to silence the opposition.
In a video message recorded at the sealed venue of the ADC meeting, Rhodes-Vivour said that the party had duly notified both the Area Command and the Divisional Police Station about the event, adding that the documents were acknowledged, minuted, and forwarded to the Commissioner of Police.
In the words of Rhodes-Vivour: “Yet, on the day of the meeting, security operatives stormed the field and sealed it off without explanation.
“After being directed to meet with the Commissioner of Police, I and my team waited at the commissioner’s office for over two hours but we were not attended to”.
Rhodes-Vivour therefore vowed that no amount of intimidation, sealed venues, or harassment would stop the ADC from engaging with Lagosians, emphasising that Lagos belongs to all residents and not a privileged political class.
He also declared that the constitutional right of association cannot be suppressed, stressing that the people of Lagos will not be silenced.
Rhodes-Vivour further said; “This movement will go on, and no act of intimidation will stop us from reaching the people”.
