APC Fires Back At Rhodes-Vivour: Electoral Ambition Is Not Governing Capacity

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship ticket of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Babatunde Gbadamosi ahead of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election, describing the pairing as a “political experiment.”

According to Bush Radio Academy, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, argued that the emergence of the two opposition candidates did not by itself demonstrate the governing experience or political structure required to administer the state.

Oladejo maintained that governing Lagos required practical experience in managing its bureaucracy, public finances and complex infrastructure. He also questioned the executive experience of the two ADC candidates, citing their participation in different political parties and electoral contests over the years.

The APC spokesman said there was nothing inherently wrong with political evolution but argued that movement between political platforms should not be mistaken for the development of a political institution. He further questioned whether the ADC candidates had records of managing a state bureaucracy, supervising a state budget or overseeing a complex public institution.

Oladejo acknowledged Rhodes-Vivour’s performance in the 2023 Lagos governorship election, when he secured 312,329 votes and finished behind incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who polled 762,134 votes. However, the APC official argued that electoral performance should not automatically be regarded as evidence of administrative capacity.

He subsequently challenged the ADC ticket to present a detailed plan for governing Lagos, particularly on how it would finance and implement projects as well as maintain continuity in existing government programmes.

While welcoming the emergence of the Rhodes-Vivour and Gbadamosi ticket, Oladejo said the APC was prepared for the political contest and urged the opposition candidates to demonstrate their governing plans and institutional experience as the 2027 election approaches.