Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, has reaffirmed his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his preferred presidential candidate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Rhodes-Vivour’s position places him firmly within the ADC political structure as the opposition party prepares for the 2027 presidential and Lagos governorship contests.
The development comes amid growing political realignments among opposition figures following the emergence of Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate and Rhodes-Vivour as the party’s Lagos governorship candidate.
Rhodes-Vivour backs Atiku
Rhodes-Vivour, popularly known as GRV, has been an active figure in the opposition coalition that preceded the ADC’s current electoral structure.
His political alignment with Atiku is significant because Rhodes-Vivour previously contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election under the Labour Party, while Peter Obi, who has since moved away from the ADC platform, was the party’s presidential candidate.
In 2026, Rhodes-Vivour remained with the ADC after Obi left the party and subsequently joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Rhodes-Vivour has repeatedly maintained that his political organisation in Lagos can compete effectively in 2027 without relying on Obi or the Obidient movement.
Speaking to Channels Television in July, he said his political structure had expanded since the 2023 election and that he had spent the intervening period building grassroots structures across Lagos communities.
Atiku emerges as ADC presidential candidate
Atiku emerged as the ADC presidential candidate after the party’s 2026 primary, positioning him as the leading presidential figure on the party’s platform for the 2027 election.
TheCable reported that Rhodes-Vivour was among ADC leaders who accompanied Atiku during a June visit to Mohammed Hayatu-Deen after the party’s presidential primary.
Atiku has since moved ahead with preparations for the 2027 presidential campaign. In September, the ADC presidential candidate approved the composition of his Presidential Campaign Council, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman.
The campaign structure also includes Moji Rhodes-Vivour, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour’s sister, as director of digital and online media, according to the published list of campaign appointments.
Rhodes-Vivour’s position in Lagos
Rhodes-Vivour’s support for Atiku comes as he prepares for another attempt at the Lagos governorship.
He secured the ADC governorship ticket in May 2026 after defeating his closest challenger, polling 12,948 votes against 6,183 votes.
His return to the Lagos governorship race follows his second-place finish in the 2023 election, when he contested on the Labour Party platform.
Channels Television reported that Rhodes-Vivour received 312,329 votes in the 2023 contest, while incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was declared the winner with 762,134 votes. Rhodes-Vivour has disputed the credibility of those results and alleged voter intimidation and suppression.
Political significance
Rhodes-Vivour’s endorsement of Atiku is important because the relationship between the ADC’s Lagos and presidential campaigns could influence how the party presents itself to voters in the state.
The 2027 elections are already being shaped by competing opposition alliances. Peter Obi’s departure from the ADC has created a new political configuration, with Obi now associated with the NDC while Rhodes-Vivour remains with the ADC.
The Guardian previously noted that the split between Obi and Rhodes-Vivour could have consequences for both the Lagos governorship contest and the presidential election because of the close relationship between their political campaigns during the 2023 elections.
Rhodes-Vivour has nevertheless argued that his 2027 campaign is no longer dependent on the political structure that supported his 2023 candidacy.
In September, he also said he still embodied the values associated with the Obidient movement, suggesting that he hopes to retain support from voters who identified with that movement even though Obi is now on a different political platform.
ADC prepares for a competitive 2027 election
The ADC is positioning itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, with Atiku at the centre of its presidential campaign and candidates such as Rhodes-Vivour leading its state-level contests.
Atiku’s campaign council has already begun taking shape, while opposition groups continue discussions over possible cooperation ahead of the presidential election.
Recent reports indicate that several opposition parties and political groups have continued consultations on the possibility of a broader alliance or single presidential candidate to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
For Rhodes-Vivour, the immediate challenge is therefore twofold: maintaining his support base in Lagos while contributing to the ADC’s wider national campaign.
What happens next
The focus will now shift increasingly towards campaign mobilisation, grassroots organisation and the competing opposition strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.
Rhodes-Vivour will contest the Lagos governorship election under the ADC, while Atiku will lead the party’s presidential campaign.
The effectiveness of the ADC’s strategy will ultimately depend on its ability to translate its opposition coalition into votes across Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
The 2027 election is still ahead, and claims about the likely outcome remain political projections rather than established facts.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Channels Television — Rhodes-Vivour’s comments on his 2027 Lagos governorship campaign and grassroots structure.
- TheCable — Atiku’s post-primary engagement with ADC leaders, including Rhodes-Vivour.
- Punch — Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
- BusinessDay — Rhodes-Vivour’s emergence as ADC Lagos governorship candidate.
- The Guardian — Analysis of the changing political relationship between Obi and Rhodes-Vivour.
