The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has pledged to prioritise integrity, accountability and improved living conditions for residents if elected governor in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Rhodes-Vivour said his ambition was to improve the quality of life of Lagosians rather than treat governance as a business.
He said he would not engage in budget padding or corruption, alleging that inflated costs in government budgets undermine public accountability.
Rhodes-Vivour cited alleged discrepancies in the cost of government expenditure, including a generator reportedly budgeted at N160 million against an estimated cost of N16 million. He also referred to a reported N2 billion allocation for air fresheners, which he said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had described as a typographical error involving N20 million.
The ADC candidate also dismissed questions surrounding his Yoruba-speaking ability and family heritage, describing them as distractions from the challenges confronting Lagos residents.
He said he would campaign in Yoruba when necessary but insisted that his campaign would focus on issues such as traffic and other difficulties affecting residents’ daily lives.
According to him, understanding and addressing the problems facing Lagosians should take precedence over debates about his background and language.
On his choice of Babatunde Gbadamosi as his running mate, Rhodes-Vivour described him as brilliant, consistent and capable of contributing to the development of Lagos.
Rhodes-Vivour, who contested the 2023 governorship election under the Labour Party, polled 312,329 votes, finishing behind Sanwo-Olu, who was declared winner with 762,134 votes.
He maintained that the 2023 results did not reflect the will of Lagos voters, alleging voter intimidation and suppression during the election, and said his camp was better prepared for the 2027 contest.
He added that he and his supporters would not be intimidated or bullied during the forthcoming election campaign.
