‘We can’t split votes again’ — LP’s Rhodes-Vivour says opposition in coalition talks ahead of 2027

• Rhodes-Vivour also took a swipe at the Lagos State Government, saying it has prioritised political survival over public interest.
• He accused the Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of working for party gains rather than the welfare of the people.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said opposition figures are in talks to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said the opposition is uniting with the aim of dislodging President Bola Tinubu in the next presidential race.

Rhodes-Vivour spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Lunchtime Politics, a Channels Television programme.

“The only way that we can move this country forward in terms of the opposition is to come together,” he said.

“We cannot afford to divide our votes again.

“Add Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s votes to His Excellency Peter Obi’s votes, they’ll completely take out the current sitting president.”

Rhodes-Vivour blamed the disunity among opposition parties for their loss in the 2023 presidential election.

He said efforts to form a new alliance have reached an advanced stage and that an announcement is imminent.

“The conversation now is that we are working to put a coalition together,” he said.

“We are going to hear announcements by tomorrow or next tomorrow, and everybody is coming together.

“That’s our main focus. At that point, we can then authoritatively say this is the party that we are going to run on.”

The LP candidate also criticised the administration of President Tinubu, describing it as a failure in the areas of economy and public welfare.

“This government ultimately has been a failure,” he said.

“When you talk about the quality of life, the cost of living, this is the highest cost-of-living crisis that Nigeria has faced in the last 40 years.”

He also expressed concern over the level of insecurity across the country.

“You look at security: over 10,000 people have died in the North, and about 7,000 people have died in the South,” he said.

“On the international tourism index, we have gone from number 8 to number 6.

“You can talk of policies all you want, but if people are experiencing hardship, simultaneously, you are renovating the vice president’s residence.”