Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, has accused the police of attempting to disrupt a political gathering organized to welcome him and former presidential candidate Peter Obi into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The event, scheduled for Saturday in the Alimosho area of Lagos, was also meant to receive supporters of both Obi and Rhodes-Vivour into the ADC.
According to a statement released on Friday by Rhodes-Vivour’s aide, Olalekan Anjolaiya, the event’s organisers had properly notified the police ahead of time.
“The planning committee formally informed Area ‘M’ Command and received verbal clearance. But later, we were told that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police had banned political gatherings,” Anjolaiya said.
He described the reversal as “shocking,” revealing that over 80 armed officers and an armoured vehicle were deployed to the venue on Thursday.
When Rhodes-Vivour visited the venue, police officials reportedly claimed they were “acting on orders from above” and insisted that he meet the Commissioner of Police.
However, despite going to the CP’s office in Ikeja and waiting for two hours, Rhodes-Vivour said the Commissioner never showed up or responded to his calls.
“The venue has been sealed off by the police with no formal communication. This is unprecedented harassment and a violation of our right to peaceful assembly,” Anjolaiya said.
He also questioned why similar political events such as PDP governors defecting to the APC in other states proceeded without interference.
Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Command were unsuccessful. DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, the command’s spokesperson, promised to issue a statement but had not done so by Friday night.
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