- Rhodes-Vivour, who was the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the election, lost to incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has opened up on the circumstances that led to his defeat at the polls during the 2023 governorship election in Lagos State.
Rhodes-Vivour, who was the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the election, lost to incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Reminiscing on his defeat, he said the deployment of violence and widespread voter suppression by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) played a major role in his loss.
Rhodes-Vivour, in a post on X on Monday, said the culture of violence has been normalised and institutionalised by successive governments in the state.
He cited the recent leadership crisis in the state House of Assembly and how the will of the members in choosing their leader was subverted.
“When you have normalized violence against a group of people, eventually that violence should meet you. You look at what happened in the State Assembly where a majority, more than 90% of them, decided that they wanted someone else to speak on their behalf, to represent them, and they went through the entire process.
“They voted, they stood their ground, despite intimidation, despite the force that was used against them. But you see how that same similar force was used to cut short the will of the people in the State Assembly.
“So it’s a culture of violence, and intimidation and voter suppression and I think that the main obstacle for me in 2023 elections,” he said
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