Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has cast doubt on the party’s ability to replicate or surpass its impressive 2023 election performance, warning that the LP has been crippled by internal divisions and endless court battles.
In an interview with Punch, Rhodes-Vivour lamented that the party squandered the goodwill it enjoyed during the last general elections, which was largely driven by the mass support for Peter Obi, LP’s presidential flagbearer.
Court Battles and Divisions Wreck LP
According to him, rather than consolidating its momentum, the party spent valuable time fighting in court over leadership tussles and factional primaries.
“The party would have built on the grace and favour it got in the last election. Instead, they wasted time in court among themselves,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour further explained that the Supreme Court ruling on LP leadership only deepened confusion, as it left no clear structure within the party.
“In the last local government election in Lagos, four different groups submitted four different names. A house divided against itself cannot stand,” he stressed.
Peter Obi Factor Saved LP in 2023
The former candidate bluntly stated that Labour Party’s 2023 gains were not because of party strength but because Nigerians rallied behind Peter Obi as a change agent.
“Anybody who says otherwise is just lying. It was done by ordinary Nigerians who wanted change, not by party structure,” Rhodes-Vivour declared.
Crisis of Confidence Ahead of 2027
With growing factional disputes and what he described as “a lot of damage” to the party, Rhodes-Vivour concluded that LP, in its current state, lacks the foundation to build a strong showing in future elections.
This revelation has further fuelled debates about the future of the Labour Party and whether it can remain a dominant force in Nigeria’s political landscape.
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