Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), confirming that he will formally declare for the coalition on Saturday.

Rhodes-Vivour made the announcement in a post on his X handle, stating:

 “I will be declaring for the ADC coalition tomorrow. No amount of police intimidation, sealed venues, or harassment will stop this historic event. Lagos belongs to the people, and we will not be silenced.”

His comments followed reports that police operatives on Friday sealed off Lion Field in Alimosho, Lagos, a venue earlier approved for the ADC to hold a political meeting.

Describing the development as “an assault on democracy,” Rhodes-Vivour accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of weaponising state institutions to suppress opposition voices.

 “It is truly disappointing that the Lagos APC is abusing state institutions by sealing off the venue where the ADC was scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow after obtaining the necessary approvals,” he said.

He stressed that Lagos “belongs to all its residents, not a select few,” adding that no form of intimidation or harassment will stop his engagement with the people.

The closure of the venue comes amid recent reports of disruptions to ADC activities in the state, including alleged assaults on party members and interference with political gatherings.

The ADC has recently gained national attention after opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi announced their alignment with the coalition in a bid to mount a strong challenge against President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 elections.