Who Is Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate Who Wants to Unseat Sanwo-Olu in Lagos?
Lagos, Nigeria - Before the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour was just one of the candidates jostling for the Lagos governorship seat with little or no chances
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Gbadebo (aka GRV), the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, was not considered a threat to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's second-term bid. He was even rated below the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor).
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However, the LP's surprise win in the presidential poll in Lagos has changed the dynamics.
Rhodes-Vivour is now a significant threat to the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s political dominance in Nigeria's economic capital.
Beyond being the guber candidate of the LP for the March 18 elections, who is Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour?
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Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour: early life and family
Gbadebo, aged 40, was born into the Rhodes-Vivour family of Lagos on March 8 1983, to Barrister Olawale and Barrister Nkechi Rhodes-Vivour.
As the name suggests, his father is Yoruba, while his mother is Igbo. (The inter-tribal root has become a subject of controversy in ongoing political campaigns)
Gbadebo is great-great-grandson to William Allen Vivour and great-grandson to Justice S.B Rhodes, the second indigenous judge ever appointed.
The LP governorship flagbearer is the grandson of Chief Justice A.R.W Rhodes-Vivour.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour's educational profile
Gbadebo got his Bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Nottingham. Upon graduation, he worked at the architecture office of Franklin Ellis Architects in the United Kingdom (UK).
The LP guber candidate later got his Master’s degree from Massachusetts institute of technology (M.I.T).
He also got a second Master's in Research and Public Policy from the political science department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The work profile of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour
GRV is a practising architect. As creative director at Spatial Tectonics, his speciality includes alternative design and construction systems that increase affordability and access to "affordable luxury.”
He has designed and worked with state governments on modular buildings using repurposed containers and alternative construction methods and materials.
Gbadebo is also the design lead for commercial and large-scale urban projects like the Delta International Commercial City.
Prior to founding Spatial Tectonics, GRV worked in Nigeria’s top architecture firms.
He sits on the board of Alhuda construction Nigeria, Delta International Commercial City Ltd, The Rhodes-Vivour Foundation, Multi Development and Construction Corporation (MDCC Africa), BLOQUE and E-TERRA Foundation.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour: The political history
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Though the 2023 guber contest is his biggest political outing yet, Gbadebo's venture into politics dates some years back.
In July 2016, GRV contested for the position of chairman of Ikeja Local government on the platform of the KOWA Party but lost the election.
He officially joined the PDP in March 2017. In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, Gbadebo sought the governorship ticket of the PDP, which Jandor eventually clinched.
After losing the PDP guber ticket, GRV, in July 2022, defected to the Labour Party, where he eventually secured the governorship ticket.
March 11 governorship election: How Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour will defeat Sanwo-Olu, LP House of Reps candidate reveals
In another report, Eunice Atuejide, the Labour Party candidate for Apapa Federal Constituency, maintained that Gbadebo would emerge victorious in the Saturday, March 11, 2023, election.
In an interview with Legit.ng on Monday, March 6, Atuejide disclosed that Lagosians are totally Obidients, adding that they would vote for Gbadebo because of Peter Obi, the LP's presidential candidate.
Speaking further, she noted that the feat recorded by Obi in the just concluded presidential election in Lagos state would be replicated by GRV during Saturday's poll.
Source: Legit.ng
