BREAKING: Bode George’s Faction of Lagos PDP collapses structure for LP’s Rhodes-Vivour

Lagos PDP faction has collapsed structure for LP’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, ENigeria Newspaper reports.

The upcoming governorship elections in Lagos State keeps unravelling different twists as the major opposition parties — the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party — are allegedly working together towards wrestling power from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Also Read: Olumide Oworu: Labour Party Candidate attacked by suspected APC hoodlums in Lagos

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is the LP’s candidate while Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

No Love Lost

Rhodes-Vivour was a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party but defected to the Labour Party after a falling-out with Jandor over the choice of running mate.

According to the LP candidate, Jandor reneged on his agreement to pick him as his vice, settling for thespian Funke Akindele instead.

He also rejected allegations leveled of enjoying the patronage of godfathers against him by Jandor.

The PDP candidate, during an interview, had said, “I fought against godfatherism in the APC, Lagos. My refusal in recognising (Chief) Bode George as a godfather in the PDP is a major reason for his endorsement of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of LP against my candidature in the PDP.”

However, Rhodes-Vivour responded, “In the Labour Party, there’s no godfather. I have no godfather.

“I had no godfather in PDP. I only had mentors and leaders.

“There were rumours of money being embezzled. Money meant for rally, elections. The narrative he brought to get the ticket was that he would bring half of the APC to add to the PDP.

“That was the story. But all of them have gone back to the APC now. Where is the value?

“He got the ticket because all the leaders of the party on national level, from Ayu, even Obasanjo supported him. And now when tables have turned, he’s talking about godfatherism.”

The Godfather?

Chief Bode George has been the running theme between both candidates with Jandor accusing the PDP Chieftain of sabotaging his candidacy and the party, choosing to support Rhodes-Vivour who defected to the Labour Party.

Nonetheless, reports reaching ENIGERIA revealed that the PDP are ready to sheathe its sword and work with the LP due to the party’s soaring popularity witnessed with Peter Obi’s victory in the presidential polls.

The faction of the PDP willing to work with Rhodes-Vivour is headed by Chief Bode George and Chief Koforowola Bucknor.

However, the stumbling block, according to a source within the Labour Party, remains Jandor who is insistent on slugging it out at the polls.

“Jandor and his faction within the PDP are refusing an alliance with Rhodes-Vivour. This is the stumbling block towards forming a grand alliance against the APC,” the source revealed.

On his part, Rhodes-Vivour continued to tour the city by courting crucial stakeholders.

Earlier, he visited the Oba of Lagos, Ridwan Akiolu, who however, pledged support for the incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Speaking during the visit of the LP candidate to the monarch’s palace, Akiolu, who prayed for Rhodes-Vivour and wish him well in his future endeavours, maintained that there was nothing wrong with Rhodes-Vivour vying.

The monarch said that he has a bright future but this election is not for him to win.

“Please, don’t relent after this contest but I am fully behind Sanwo-Olu,” he told Rhodes-Vivour.