UPDATED: Aregbesola, Rhodes-Vivour wooing members from Lagos APC, LP, PDP
By KEMI KASUMU
They are joining forces to ensure they garner more grassroots mobilisers to join the coalition pushing to unseat President Bola Tinubu and ensure Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s successor is not an APC member during the 2027 general elections.
In furtherance to report released by his media office Tuesday night of July 8, 2025 about his meeting with National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, update from the meeting shows Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour’s quest to take “Our Lagos” from the existing order and hand it to whom it lawfully brings in the coming general elections is gaining momentum.
This is as the two leaders have teamed up together to woo new members from Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to join the opposition coalition party of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in its bid and determination to the ruling party during the 2027 presidential and gubernatorial elections in Lagos State.
They are joining forces to ensure they garner more grassroots mobilisers to join the coalition pushing to unseat President Bola Tinubu and ensure Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s successor is not an APC member during the 2027 general elections.
The political atmosphere in Lagos currently, considering the heated criticism of the existing powers by De Renaissance Patriots Foundation a socio-cultural organization dedicated to making the state better for indigenes and residents, is fully charged that not only a new order is entrenched but that whoever comes on top of that must be indigene from any of the five IBILE (Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe) in of the state.
The odds, in all, are in favour of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour who is an indigene from the Popo Aguda area of the Lagos Island and is passionate about developing the cultural attachment of the Lagos State people as a blood of the soil.
Even though Rhodes-Vivour is yet to leave the LP officially, sources within the LP disclosed that he will defect in a couple of weeks to ADC, considering that many Obidients were being compelled to leave the Labour Party.
Sources close to both individuals disclosed to The Guild that they plan to work closely and mobilise their supporters from the APC and LP for ADC, to end the 28-year dominance of the APC in 2027.
Aregbesola and the LP’s former gubernatorial candidate during the 2023 election were said to have put the plan in motion after a closed-door meeting that lasted for several minutes, which they claimed was held in Ikeja Government Residential Area (GRA), the home of the former Minister of Interior.
Rhodes-Vivour confirmed the meeting on Tuesday after releasing pictures from the meeting with Aregbesola, who was a founding member of the APC and commissioner in Lagos under Tinubu’s administration.
In the message accompanying the picture released through his official social media handle after the meeting, Rhodes-Vivour described their engagement as one designed to achieve a mission in Lagos.
He said, “Had a great meeting earlier today with Engr Rauf Aregbesola. The mission is clear, and the commitment is unwavering. More importantly, we shook hands. A new Nigeria and a Lagos that works for everyone is possible”.
The meeting came barely four days after the Osun State former governor, Aregbesola, received a rousing welcome at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, returning from Abuja, where he was appointed the ADC national secretary following the unveiling ceremony of the coalition against the ruling party, APC.
On his arrival at the airport, the former minister was spotted among a cheering crowd of loyalists, many of whom wore bright orange caps as a symbol of solidarity and renewed political fervour.
Speaking on his new role, Aregbesola drew inspiration from South Africa’s African National Congress, describing it as a party with vision and integrity — qualities he says are lacking in most Nigerian parties.
“The ANC is not perfect, but it stands for something. It was forged in resistance, sharpened by vision, and led by men and women who believe in justice, dignity, equality, inclusivity of all interests, and true freedom. It has character. It has a soul,” he said.
“Sadly, in Nigeria today, we cannot say the same about many of our political parties. Our political landscape is plagued by parties that lack ideological depth. They are empty shells emerging and splitting, not over policy or principle, but over power and personality,” he added.
Last week, the founding National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, stepped down, handing over leadership to former Senate President David Mark as the new National Chairman and Aregbesola as National Secretary.
The ADC’s sudden rise in prominence has reportedly unsettled the APC and some senior officials in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The recent dramatic takeover of the ADC structure from its original leadership witnessed a high-powered political gathering attended by prominent figures across party lines.
Among those present were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed, former Senate President David Mark, former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami.
Also in attendance were factional Labour Party chairperson Esther Usman, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Adamawa State Governor Jibrilla Bindo, former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, and former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Others included PDP elder statesman Aminu Wali, former Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Victor Umeh, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, former Buhari aide Lauretta Onochie, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus.
