Lagos LP Governorship Candidate Endorses Peter Obi as Nigeria’s Leader

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State in the 2023 general election, has voiced his endorsement for Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, as the leader Nigeria needs. However, Rhodes-Vivour expressed a nuanced view, stating that Obi might not necessarily be the politician they need at present.

In an interview on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Rhodes-Vivour remarked, “Peter Obi is the leader that we need for Nigeria, but not the politician we need for us.” This statement reflects Rhodes-Vivour’s acknowledgment of Obi’s leadership qualities while hinting at potential differences in political alignment.

Furthermore, Rhodes-Vivour asserted that Obi’s approach to elections is distinguished by his refusal to engage in vote-buying. He emphasized Obi’s ability to secure significant support in Lagos without resorting to such tactics.

Despite Obi’s significant influence, especially evident in his third-place finish in the previous year’s presidential polls, Rhodes-Vivour himself faced electoral defeat, losing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the Lagos gubernatorial race.

Rhodes-Vivour’s electoral challenge persisted through the legal system, culminating in a January 2024 Supreme Court ruling. A five-member panel delivered a unanimous judgment affirming Sanwo-Olu’s victory in the March 18, 2023 governorship election, dismissing two separate appeals contesting the outcome.

Rhodes-Vivour’s endorsement of Obi, juxtaposed with his own electoral journey, sheds light on the complexities and dynamics of Nigerian politics, where leadership qualities and electoral strategies often intersect in intricate ways.