The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said he has no personal disagreement with former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, despite the political differences between Obi and his presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Rhodes-Vivour made this known in an interview with BBC Igbo published on Monday, while discussing his political position ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He explained that his major priority remained the development of Lagos State, while reaffirming his loyalty to the ADC and its presidential candidate.

“I have no issues whatsoever with His Excellency Peter Obi, regardless of what happens at the top level. My first priority and my first love is Lagos State, and I must always make decisions based on Lagos first,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour recalled that he had worked politically with both Atiku and Obi at different points, noting that the relationship and political alignments between the two politicians had changed over successive election cycles.

“The first time I ran for Senate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a presidential candidate; His Excellency Peter Obi was his vice president,” he said.

He noted that the two politicians later sought the presidency separately in subsequent elections.

“The next election His Excellency Peter Obi was running for president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was running for president, and His Excellency Peter Obi was a presidential candidate,” he added.

According to Rhodes-Vivour, his current membership of the ADC means Atiku is his presidential candidate, and he is committed to supporting the party ahead of the 2027 election.

“I’m in the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is my presidential candidate, that’s where I am, so we are going to do everything we can for our party as the ADC,” he stated.

He also urged Nigerians to vote for candidates they believe can move the country forward, while calling on citizens to ensure their votes are properly counted.

“Nigerians should vote for who they believe is going to take them forward, and let’s ensure as a people that our voices are heard, and our votes count,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

Addressing the recurring description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land,” the ADC candidate rejected the claim, insisting that Lagos had never been one.

“Lagos has never been a no-man’s land,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour questioned the basis for describing Lagos in such terms, particularly with regard to land ownership and transactions in the state.

He argued that the claim was unfounded, asking how people could describe Lagos as a “no-man’s land” when land is bought from identifiable owners.

“If it’s no-man’s land, who are they buying the land from?” he asked.

The governorship candidate described the expression as offensive, saying it was an insult not only to him but also to his ancestry.

“But for anybody to say Lagos is a no-man’s land, that’s a very big insult. It’s an insult not just to me, it’s an insult to my ancestors,” he said.

Governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has dismissed the political activities of the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Rivers State, saying the group does not pose a threat to his political movement.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Lulu-Briggs made the remarks on Monday during the unveiling of his manifesto and campaign roadmap, tagged “Reset Rivers State,” in Buguma City, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking about the growing influence of the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition, the NDC candidate said the coalition had already “lost its colour,” insisting that it would not determine the outcome of the 2027 governorship election.

According to him, the people of Rivers State would ultimately decide the winner of the election, rather than any political coalition.

Lulu-Briggs further stated that he was not concerned about the coalition, claiming that its members account for less than seven per cent of the state’s population.

He also encouraged his supporters to remain confident in their ability to achieve their political goals.

“I am not bothered about any form of coalition. I know that the rainbow has already lost its colour. Our people should have confidence in their ability to achieve the utmost.

“If you put their numbers together, they are less than 7% of the population of the state. The coalition is something we can overcome,” he said.

Former Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said he has no regrets supporting Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, describing the decision as a commitment to promoting unity, forgiveness and trust among Nigerians.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Monday while delivering a keynote address at the second Bala AbdulKadir Mohammed Colloquium held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi.

The event was organised to mark the 68th birthday of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.

Speaking about the 2023 presidential election, Baba-Ahmed explained that his decision to serve as Obi’s running mate was driven by his conviction that important questions concerning Nigeria’s leadership and democratic future needed to be addressed.

He maintained that Obi was constitutionally qualified to contest the presidency, stressing that his decision to support him was largely influenced by what he described as the need for greater unity in Nigeria.

Baba-Ahmed said, “Up till today, I have no regrets supporting Peter Obi. Fundamental questions were answered. He is a Nigerian, he is in the constitutional line to sit. That is the doctrine.

“I stood for Nigeria in 2023 to need to show forgiveness, and unity, and trust in each other.”

The former vice-presidential candidate also called on Nigerians to develop the courage to challenge oppression and injustice, warning that leaders should not be celebrated simply to satisfy their egos.

According to him, appreciating leaders should go beyond praise and should instead involve identifying and encouraging the qualities that enable them to serve the people effectively.

“There is a duty in appreciating leaders. Why you appreciate leaders is not to massage their ego. What is even more important is to educate others to appreciate, understand, see, and imbibe those single qualities. Nigeria is in need of leaders,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed further expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that the separation of powers between the executive and legislative arms of government had been weakened.

He said the development had undermined the ability of the National Assembly to effectively carry out its constitutional duties.

He therefore urged Nigerians to take a more active role in demanding accountability from public officials and resisting a system controlled by a small group of powerful individuals.

“Why can’t the Nigerian people unite? Why can’t the Nigerian people work together? Why can’t the Nigerian people not stand for themselves, stand for themselves, fight for themselves?” he asked.

Baba-Ahmed also criticised what he described as the growing prevalence of oppression, bullying and injustice in the country.

He maintained that both political leaders and ordinary citizens have a responsibility to oppose such practices.

“The point is that we detest oppression. We detest cheating. We hate bullying. We need leaders that will stop it. Because now, oppression is getting into the DNA of Nigeria. Accepting oppression is getting into the DNA of Nigerian people,” he said.

He further urged Nigerians to support public officials who are prepared to speak against injustice and defend the rights of citizens, even when doing so could put their political car