Rhodes-Vivour Blames Voter Suppression and Political Violence for Labour Party’s Defeat in 2023 Lagos Polls

 

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s flagbearer in the 2023 Lagos State governorship race, has come forward to share his perspective on why his campaign fell short despite a surge of popular support. His latest comments have reignited conversations about electoral integrity and political violence in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Posting via his verified X account on Monday, Rhodes-Vivour pointed squarely at the deliberate use of intimidation, threats, and violence to deter voters and undermine the democratic process. According to him, what unfolded during the election was not just a political contest but a battle against a system determined to suppress an emerging force for change.

“You normalize violence against a group of people long enough, and that same violence eventually returns to you,” he wrote. He argued that a deeply entrenched culture of fear and coercion cast a long shadow over the electoral exercise. For him, the issue was not merely about losing votes but about the long-standing pattern of silencing voices through brute force.

The Labour Party candidate had surged in popularity leading up to the elections, attracting support especially among the youth and urban electorate. His campaign focused on issues such as transparency, social equity, infrastructure, and accountability. Many political analysts predicted a tight race between him and the eventual winner, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC. However, the final results told a different story, as the incumbent governor was declared the winner by a wide margin.

Rhodes-Vivour remains convinced that the final outcome did not reflect the true will of the people. He pointed to events during the Lagos State House of Assembly elections as evidence of how resilient voters were, even in the face of orchestrated hostility. He praised constituents who, despite various threats, turned up and stood their ground in selecting their representatives.

“These people voted. They were steadfast. Even when there was intimidation, even when they were attacked, they held on,” he noted. Yet, he emphasized how those same oppressive tactics that failed to crush the will of voters at the legislative level were strategically successful in the gubernatorial race.

While Rhodes-Vivour did not name specific actors behind the violence, his statement clearly underscores his belief that a politically motivated agenda was deployed to subvert the democratic process. Videos circulated during the elections showed scenes of ballot box snatching, voter harassment, and ethnic profiling across various polling units in Lagos. Many of these incidents were widely condemned by both local observers and international election monitoring groups.

He reiterated his concern that voter suppression remains a major threat to Nigerian democracy, especially in urban centers where political dominance is often hotly contested. He emphasized that democracy should not be reduced to a game of fear, intimidation, and manipulation of the electorate.

The Labour Party's experience during the 2023 elections, he argued, was not isolated. Instead, it reflected a broader problem in the Nigerian political landscape where violence is used systematically to maintain power and stifle dissent. He called on Nigerians to reject this political culture and continue demanding reforms that protect their rights at the ballot box.

Supporters of Rhodes-Vivour echoed his sentiments, with many reposting his remarks online and urging for deeper investigations into electoral malpractices in Lagos State. Civil society groups have also called for stronger electoral laws and better enforcement mechanisms to deter political thuggery and voter suppression.

As Lagos gears up for local government elections and future electoral contests, Rhodes-Vivour’s remarks serve as a reminder of the long road ahead in building a democratic system that works for all. He closed his statement with a call for vigilance and resilience among citizens, urging them not to lose hope despite the setbacks.

For many, his reflections are not just about a lost election but about a vision of democracy still struggling to break free from the chains of violence and fear.