Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Lagos State governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has announced that he will conduct part of his 2027 campaign in Yoruba, following a commitment to learn the language with the help of a private tutor. Rhodes-Vivour disclosed this during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, September 17, 2026, where he addressed the controversy that surrounded his Yoruba language proficiency during the 2023 election cycle.
Addressing the Yoruba Language Controversy
Rhodes-Vivour's earlier remarks, in which he stated that he did not “think in Yoruba,” were widely used against him during the 2023 campaign. Critics questioned his connection to Lagos voters, and the issue became a recurring theme in the political discourse. In his recent interview, he acknowledged the importance of culture and language, stating, “This tribal thing, speaking language situation and all that. Yes, culture and language are very important, and I've gotten a Yoruba teacher, and I've learned Yoruba, and I'll campaign in Yoruba, and that is wonderful.”
The ADC candidate, who previously ran on the Labour Party platform in the March 2023 election, finished second behind Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His new approach signals a strategic shift aimed at strengthening his appeal among Yoruba-speaking constituents in Lagos State.
Campaign Focus on Infrastructure and Living Conditions
Beyond the language question, Rhodes-Vivour said his campaign would prioritize practical challenges affecting Lagosians across various communities and backgrounds. He identified flooding, housing shortages, and traffic congestion as the defining issues that transcend ethnic and linguistic lines. “My passionate interest is to ensure that we have a Lagos that no longer stinks,” he said.
He argued that these problems create a unifying appeal for his campaign. “All of us are going to — when you translate it — all of us are going to hear the smell. Everybody is experiencing the failure of our flooding, of our housing crisis, of the traffic, of the loss of dignity of Lagosians, and that connects all of us, regardless of language,” he added.
Previous Legal Challenge Against APC Candidate
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Rhodes-Vivour raised fresh questions about the eligibility of APC's Obafemi Hamzat to contest the Lagos governorship election. Rhodes-Vivour said his legal team challenged Hamzat's candidacy based on testimony that Hamzat swore an oath of allegiance to the United States. An immigration lawyer testified before the Lagos election tribunal in 2023 that Hamzat had undergone the US naturalisation process.
As the 2027 election approaches, Rhodes-Vivour's focus on language and infrastructure is expected to shape his campaign messaging, with the aim of connecting with a broader base of Lagos voters.
