The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State has unveiled politician and businessman Babatunde Gbadamosi as the running mate to its 2027 governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
The development comes a month after Gbadamosi resigned his membership of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), following what he described as extensive consultations and careful consideration.
Gbadamosi, who made the announcement on his social media handles yesterday, said he and Rhodes-Vivour were competent and capable of providing effective leadership for Lagos State.
“I assure you that, in the competent, compassionate and capable hands of @GRVlagos and myself, Lagos State can be so much more than it is right now, and Lagosians should not be begging for their pension or anything else for that matter.
“Lagos truly has no business with poverty, homelessness or hunger, and yet, here we are today,” he said.
Gbadamosi also said the ticket was aimed at taking Lagos to a higher level of development, drawing comparisons with the administration of the late former governor, Lateef Jakande.
“We all want to take Lagos State to the next level, to even greater than the late great Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande took it. To do that, we must resist the devils, and they shall surely flee before us, and together, we can Make Èkó Great Again,” he added.
His emergence as running mate has attracted support from some Lagosians, while others questioned why he chose to serve as deputy to Rhodes-Vivour, whom he described as a younger politician.
Responding to the questions, Gbadamosi said he had deliberately chosen to support a younger candidate, arguing that Nigeria’s political leadership had for decades failed to make way for younger people.
“Many Lagosians are wondering why I would accept the nomination to be a Deputy Governorship candidate to a younger Gubernatorial candidate in Gbadebo P Rhodes-Vivour. Many think I am more experienced, mature, etc, and should therefore be the candidate and Gbadebo the deputy.
“I have decided to explain this only once,” he said.
Gbadamosi criticised the repeated political promise that young people would become leaders in the future, arguing that previous generations had assumed leadership while still relatively young.
“For decades, those in the corridors of power have repeated the sentence ‘the youths are the leaders of tomorrow’, but have refused, consistently, to leave the scene.
“That sentence ‘the youths are the leaders of tomorrow’ has, in fact, been a big fat lie the whole time. Let me explain,” he said.
He cited Nigeria’s political history in the 1950s, noting that the Western Region was led by the Action Group under Obafemi Awolowo, who was in his early 40s, while several of his colleagues were in their 20s and 30s.
Gbadamosi also referenced Anthony Enahoro, who he said demanded independence for Nigeria in parliament at the age of 23, describing the administration of that era as one that delivered significant development.
He further cited the military governments that emerged following the coups of the 1960s, as well as the administration of former military Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo, arguing that several of the country’s major political and infrastructure developments were driven by relatively young leaders.
Turning to Lagos, Gbadamosi recalled that Mobolaji Johnson became the state’s first military governor at the age of 31 and appointed older figures, including Adeniran Ogunsanya, S.L. Edu and Ganiyu Olawale Dawodu, into his cabinet.
He said the administration of Johnson, alongside that of the late Jakande, remained among the most impactful governments in Lagos State.
Gbadamosi said he had supported Rhodes-Vivour’s emergence as the Labour Party governorship candidate in 2022 partly because of his age and the skills he believed he could bring to the leadership of Lagos.
“I am proud to say that I was somewhat instrumental in ensuring that Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour got the Labour Party ticket in 2022, partly because he is a younger man, and also because of the unique skill set he brought to the table, which I still consider to be the best fit for Lagos State right now,” he said.
He said Rhodes-Vivour’s age and experience made him suitable to lead the state, arguing that younger Nigerians should be given the opportunity to take responsibility now rather than being told to wait.
“Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is in his early forties — a perfect time when the energy of youth meets the wisdom of experience. The time for the youths to lead is NOW, not tomorrow, and we need to revert back to what we did before, to get the results we desire for our children and our children’s children,” he said.
Gbadamosi urged Lagos residents to support the ADC ticket, saying he and Rhodes-Vivour were committed to building what they described as a better Lagos.
“If you want to Make Èkó Great Again, and build a better Lagos than the one we have all endured for the last 27 years, please join Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and I, and help us to chase away the locusts that want to feed on your children’s future, while telling you to your face that THEIR youths will be your leaders tomorrow,” he added.
