Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Vows to Campaign in Yoruba Ahead of 2027 Lagos Election

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has said he will conduct his campaign in Yoruba ahead of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.

The Lagos governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) made the announcement during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday.

His decision follows renewed attention to his inability to speak Yoruba, an issue that featured prominently during the 2023 governorship campaign.

During that campaign, Rhodes-Vivour faced criticism after an interview in which he said he did not “think in Yoruba”.

The comment became a major talking point among some voters and political commentators. It also raised questions about language, culture and political communication in Lagos.

However, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour said he has taken steps to address the issue since the 2023 election.

He explained that he has been learning Yoruba and now recognises the importance of using the language when engaging voters.

According to him, language is closely linked to culture. Therefore, he believes speaking Yoruba will help him communicate more directly with people during the 2027 campaign.

The move marks a change from his approach during the previous election cycle. It also comes as political parties prepare for another closely watched governorship contest in Lagos.

For Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the focus is now on connecting with voters in a way that reflects the state’s linguistic and cultural environment.

The 2027 election is expected to generate intense political activity across Lagos as candidates and parties begin to build their campaigns.

Rhodes-Vivour contested the Lagos governorship election in 2023 under the Labour Party. He later joined the ADC and emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 contest.

His decision to campaign in Yoruba is therefore likely to become part of his broader effort to shape his message and engage voters ahead of the election.