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Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos State, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of weaponising state institutions to stifle opposition in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, Rhodes-Vivour alleged that the police sealed off Lion Field in Alimosho — a venue earlier approved for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to host a political meeting.
He described the move as an assault on democracy and a calculated attempt to silence opposition voices in Lagos.
“It is truly disappointing that the Lagos APC is abusing state institutions by sealing off the venue where the ADC was scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow after obtaining the necessary approvals,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
“This is not only an abuse of power, it is a clear attempt to stifle opposition voices in Lagos. We understand that the APC is jittery about the momentum the ADC and Obidients are building across the state, but deploying state security agencies to frustrate lawful political activities is unacceptable and undemocratic.”
He stressed that Lagos does not belong to one political clique but to every citizen.
“Lagos belongs to all of us, not a select few. And it is our constitutional right to assemble lawfully. Let it be clear that no amount of intimidation or harassment will stop us from engaging with the people of Lagos. Our movement is powered by the people, and no barricade or show of force can weaken their resolve for a better Lagos,” he said.
In a video posted on X, Rhodes-Vivour, who was at the sealed venue, narrated what transpired.
“We are at the Lion Field now at Alimosho. We are supposed to have our event tomorrow on the 6th. As of yesterday, we heard that the police have taken over the field, the venue,” he said.
“We’ve come to see what’s going on because police are our friends and we believe that they are here to protect us and make sure that it is safe.”
“So, no issues. We are going to go see the commissioner of police to discuss, you know, using this field. We wrote a letter, so come in here. Yes, it’s our constitutional right to gather. We are not doing a rally, we are not doing a protest. We just want to gather as an organization,” he said.
According to him, attempts to intimidate the opposition undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
“That’s why we are free, that’s why we are in Nigeria, that’s why we are in a democracy. That’s why we are not under military rule. So, we are going to go and see the commissioner now and by God’s grace, we will get a favorable response,” he added.
A member of the event’s planning committee also confirmed that the necessary notifications and approvals were secured from the police before the venue was barricaded.
“We wrote a letter of notification to both the area command and the Gowon Estate Police Station here, and it has been minuted upon and forwarded to the commissioner of police about three days ago,” the ADC member said.
“So, on getting here this morning, we found out that the place has been kind of cordoned off with policemen, and we were told that we need to go and see the commissioner of police. And as His Excellency has said, we know police, they are our friends, they are here to protect us,” the committee member said.
Neither the Lagos State Police Command nor the APC is yet to issue an official response.
