ADC Alimosho Raises Alarm Over Attack on Ward M1, Names Orelope, Ejibadero and De Royal as Alleged Masterminds

Chief Adeyinka Odukoya condemns attack on party members as ADC leadership promises investigation, support for victims and stronger security measures.

Tension has reportedly gripped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State following an attack on members of Ward M1 on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

The attack reportedly left several members injured, while personal belongings were allegedly stolen and chairs and other sitting materials destroyed.

In a press statement issued on Friday, October 23, the Chairman of the ADC Alimosho Local Government Management Team, Chief Adeyinka Odukoya, condemned the incident and identified Joke Orelope, Ejibadero and De Royal as alleged masterminds of the attack.

The allegations, as contained in the party chairman's statement, have not been independently verified. The statement provided to this publication did not include responses from the individuals named.

How the Incident Unfolded

According to Odukoya, he was accompanying the ADC Alimosho executives and party candidates on a tour of Ward D and Ward M2 when he received the report of the attack.

He said he immediately contacted the state chairman and relevant security agencies to ensure a prompt response and prevent further incidents.

Odukoya later led members of his entourage, alongside House of Assembly Constituency I candidate Ojogbon Gideon Adeniran and House of Representatives candidate Hon. Ola Olusola Motunrayo, to the affected ward and the police station.

They met with the Ward M1 chairman and some members, including women. Members who had sustained injuries and were still present received attention.

The party leadership said it had initiated further security measures to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and determine those responsible.

Orelope, Ejibadero and De Royal Named in Party Chairman's Statement

A major development in the incident is the allegation contained in Odukoya's press statement naming Joke Orelope, Ejibadero and De Royal as the alleged masterminds.

The allegation raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the attack and the security of party members in Alimosho.

However, the allegation remains an allegation and should not be treated as proof of responsibility. An impartial investigation is necessary to establish what happened, identify any individuals involved and determine whether any offence was committed.

The responses of the individuals named were not included in the statement available to this publication.

ADC Plans Support for Affected Members

Beyond condemning the incident, the ADC Alimosho leadership has outlined measures intended to address the losses suffered by affected members.

Odukoya directed the Ward M1 executives to prepare a comprehensive inventory of missing personal belongings and damaged property. The report will be submitted to the state chairman to facilitate appropriate intervention and support.

An emergency meeting involving party elders, leaders, local government executives and ward chairmen was scheduled for Friday, October 23.

The meeting is expected to discuss the welfare of injured members, possible assistance for those who suffered losses, and measures to prevent a recurrence.

The party also plans to examine ways to improve security across its 11 wards and 36 LASIEC wards, including appropriate engagement with conventional and non-conventional security outfits.

Odukoya Reaffirms Commitment to Members' Safety

The ADC Alimosho chairman assured party members that their safety and welfare remained a priority.

He pledged that the leadership would take reasonable steps to protect members, cooperate with relevant security agencies and pursue appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.

The party also called on members to remain calm, vigilant and united as efforts continue to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

The Need for a Credible Investigation

The reported attack underscores the importance of protecting political party members from violence, intimidation and the destruction of property.

Regardless of internal disagreements or political differences, party members must be able to assemble and participate in lawful political activities without fear for their safety.

The immediate priorities are to ensure that injured members receive appropriate care, document losses, investigate the attack and establish responsibility through credible evidence.

With the party chairman's statement naming three individuals as alleged masterminds, the attention now turns to the relevant security agencies and any further evidence that may clarify the allegations.

The outcome of a fair and impartial investigation will be essential to establishing the facts and ensuring that any person found responsible is held accountable in accordance with the law.

AYEGBAJU INTERNATIONAL MARKET MUST SERVE THE PEOPLE, NOT PRIVILEGED INTERESTS

The recent visit of the Osun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Dr. Bunmi Jenyo, to Ayegbaju International Market raises serious concerns about the direction of market administration and the welfare of ordinary traders.

Ayegbaju Market was established to promote commerce, expand trading opportunities and improve the livelihoods of market men and women, particularly ordinary traders whose economic survival depends on affordable access to stalls and shops. It must not become an avenue for displacing the poor while politically connected individuals benefit from the conversion and reallocation of public commercial facilities.

The market was developed under the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and commissioned in July 2014 as part of a wider effort to restore Osogbo's commercial importance. Its facilities included open stalls, mini-stalls, meat and fish sections, warehouses and cold rooms. These provisions reflected the market's intended commercial purpose and the need to accommodate different categories of traders.

Against this background, the reported demolition of kiosks without transparent guarantees of alternative trading spaces is deeply troubling. Removing traders' means of livelihood while allegedly reallocating spaces and stalls to favoured individuals is not market reform; it is a potential transfer of economic opportunity from the vulnerable to the privileged. Government must publish the criteria governing allocation, reallocation and any proposed demolition.

Even more disturbing are concerns that structures originally intended for trading are being altered or converted into factories for salt production and sales, reportedly benefiting interests connected to those exercising authority over the market. These allegations require an independent investigation, full disclosure of approvals and contracts, and clarification of who owns or controls the facilities concerned. Public commercial infrastructure must not be appropriated for private advantage.

The displacement of traders in the fish and meat sections would compound the hardship already confronting small-scale traders and their families. These are livelihoods, not disposable structures. Any reorganisation must protect existing occupants, provide suitable alternative spaces before displacement, and ensure that affected traders are not priced out of the market.

The Commissioner's invocation of Governor Ademola Adeleke's name and the traders' electoral support for his administration cannot substitute for accountability. Government exists to protect citizens' interests, not to use political loyalty as justification for policies that may undermine their economic survival.

We therefore call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to urgently:

1.  Suspend further demolitions and structural conversions pending an independent review.

2.  Publish the records of stall allocations and reassignments.

3.  Investigate allegations of preferential treatment and private appropriation of public assets.

4.  Ensure that displaced traders receive suitable alternative spaces before any further action.

Ayegbaju International Market is a public economic asset whose administration must be guided by transparency, fairness and social justice. The promise of government must be measured not by official visits or assurances, but by whether ordinary people can earn a living with dignity.

Governor Adeleke must ensure that Ayegbaju remains a market for the people, not a preserve for privileged interests.

Signed:

Comrade Wale Balogun

Convener, Mẹkunnu Kọya

16/10/2026

Fuel Relief Is Not Living Dignity: GAFAMORG Calls for Living Wage and Stronger Social Protection

The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG) has called on the Federal Government to move beyond temporary fuel-related relief measures and adopt a sustainable economic framework built around a Living Wage, accessible public services and comprehensive social protection.

In a statement addressing Nigeria’s escalating cost-of-living crisis, the organisation expressed support for the legitimate demands of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), urging the government to take urgent, concrete and transparent measures to protect workers, pensioners, informal-sector workers and struggling households.

GAFAMORG noted that rising fuel prices have consequences far beyond the cost of transportation, contributing to higher food prices and increasing the cost of housing, healthcare, education and other essential services.

According to the organisation, temporary palliatives may provide short-term relief but cannot resolve the structural problems undermining household incomes and living standards.

Minimum Wage Must Reflect the Cost of Living

GAFAMORG stressed the distinction between a National Minimum Wage, which establishes a legal wage floor, and a Living Wage, which should enable workers to afford decent food, secure housing, transportation, healthcare, education and other essential needs for themselves and their families.

The organisation maintained that wage negotiations should be informed by verified living costs and assessed according to the purchasing power of workers, rather than the nominal amount announced.

It called for evidence-based minimum-wage negotiations, regular and predictable wage reviews, stronger enforcement of wage laws and collective agreements, and a clear, time-bound pathway towards a Living Wage.

Six-Point Agenda for Economic Dignity

The organisation outlined six priority demands:

1. Immediate and transparent relief: Effective measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel and living costs.

2. Evidence-based wage negotiations: Wage reviews grounded in current and verifiable household expenditure.

3. A pathway to a Living Wage: Time-bound measures supported by collective bargaining and regular wage reviews.

4. Enforcement of labour rights: Stronger implementation of minimum-wage laws and collective agreements across public and private sectors.

5. A comprehensive Social Wage: Improved access to affordable healthcare, quality public education, transportation, housing support, adequate pensions and protection against unemployment, disability and workplace injuries.

6. Inclusive protection: Policies that recognise the needs of formal-sector workers, informal workers, self-employed Nigerians and pensioners.

GAFAMORG emphasised that a Living Wage and a Social Wage must advance together. While the former concerns the income workers earn, the latter encompasses essential public services and social protections that reduce the financial burden on households.

The organisation argued that the effectiveness of economic policy should ultimately be measured by whether ordinary Nigerians can afford basic necessities without being trapped in persistent anxiety and financial insecurity.

GAFAMORG Launches People's Living Dignity Test 2026

As part of its public advocacy, GAFAMORG announced the People's Living Dignity Test 2026, a voluntary questionnaire designed to gather citizens' experiences of wages, living costs, access to public services and social protection.

The organisation explained that the initiative is intended to amplify the voices of ordinary Nigerians and encourage wider public participation in discussions about workers' welfare and economic policy. It clarified that the questionnaire is not a substitute for official statistics or academic research.

GAFAMORG called on the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), other labour organisations, employers, professional associations, informal workers, pensioners, civil society organisations, community leaders, academics, journalists and members of the public to support and circulate the questionnaire.

Members of the public can participate through the official People's Living Dignity Test 2026 questionnaire: [Insert verified questionnaire link here].

The organisation encouraged Nigerians to complete the questionnaire, share it within their communities and workplaces, and mobilise their unions and associations to participate.

Beyond Temporary Concessions

GAFAMORG concluded that Nigeria needs a long-term economic framework that protects purchasing power, improves access to essential services and guarantees greater economic security for workers and their families.

It reiterated that lasting economic dignity requires more than temporary concessions, calling for coordinated action on wages, pensions, public services and social protection.

The statement ended with the organisation's commitment to its founding ideals:

“GAFAMORG — For the Voiceless and Defenceless! Remembering Gani by Continuing His Struggle.”

Groups Accuse INEC, APC of Undermining Electoral Credibility Ahead of 2027 Polls

CACOBAG, CDJ demand restoration of omitted candidates, review of electoral provisions

The Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG) and the Centre for Democracy and Justice (CDJ) have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Assembly and the judiciary to address controversies surrounding the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, the organisations alleged that the omission of candidates, disputed party-primary outcomes and restrictive membership registration requirements could undermine political participation and public confidence in the elections.

They accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Tinubu’s administration and INEC of actions they said could disadvantage opposition parties. The allegations represent the groups’ position and were not independently established by the statement.

The concerns come amid reported disputes over candidates omitted from INEC’s published lists. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for instance, has confirmed that it is engaging the commission over the exclusion of some of its candidates, including Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Isa Pantami in Gombe State. <Cite refs={["turn525173search1","turn525173search2"]}/>

Disputed nominations and candidate omissions

The groups cited cases involving candidates from several political parties, including the PDP, NDC, ADC, NNPP, Labour Party, APM and ADP, arguing that the controversy extends beyond a single party.

They also alleged irregularities in the APC’s handling of its primaries in Lagos State, specifically citing Hon. Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, whom they said won the party’s primary for Agege Constituency I with 9,132 votes but was subsequently replaced. They further alleged similar impositions in Alimosho and Ikeja.

CACOBAG and CDJ called for the publication of primary-election results and video recordings held by INEC, arguing that these records would help establish whether the nominations and subsequent substitutions complied with the law.

However, the reasons for individual omissions and the circumstances surrounding the disputed nominations must be assessed against INEC’s records, relevant court decisions and responses from the political parties concerned.

Electoral law and membership registration

The organisations also challenged provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party membership registers and participation in primaries.

Section 77(5) of the Act provides that only party members whose names appear on a membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a primary, congress or convention may participate in the exercise. Related provisions restrict the use of alternative registers and prescribe consequences for failure to submit the required register. <Cite refs={["turn525173search2","turn525173search4"]}/>

The groups argued that these requirements could exclude prospective party members, particularly those facing barriers to digital access, registration costs and verification procedures. They also criticised INEC’s reported online registration policy, saying it could disproportionately affect low-income citizens.

Their objections come despite a September 2026 Supreme Court decision upholding the challenged statutory membership-register provisions. The organisations maintained that the provisions should nevertheless be reviewed, arguing that they could restrict internal party democracy and political participation. <Cite refs={["turn525173search2","turn525173search3"]}/>

Calls for transparency and accountability

The groups accused INEC of inconsistency in its handling of candidate nominations and qualification-related complaints. They urged the commission to explain the basis for disputed omissions and substitutions and to apply electoral rules transparently across all political parties.

They also criticised provisions they said could restrict post-election challenges involving alleged certificate forgery, falsification, impersonation and perjury, arguing that electoral timelines should not shield criminal conduct from lawful investigation.

The statement urged the National Assembly to reconsider provisions the organisations consider restrictive and called on the judiciary to ensure that electoral disputes are resolved in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws.

CACOBAG and CDJ appealed to pro-democracy and civil society organisations, including the United Action for Democracy, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, SERAP, CISLAC and Transition Monitoring Group, to engage the issues. They also called on the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to defend democratic participation.

Four demands

The organisations presented four principal demands:

1. Restoration of candidates: INEC should restore candidates whom the groups believe were validly nominated but unlawfully excluded.
2. Publication of records: The commission should release results and video recordings of monitored party primaries, particularly the Labour Party primaries in Lagos State.
3. Review of electoral provisions: The National Assembly should repeal or amend provisions the groups consider restrictive of party membership and judicial scrutiny of alleged certificate forgery.
4. Judicial protection: Courts should scrutinise disputed candidate substitutions and ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements.

The statement was signed by CACOBAG Chairman, Prince Toyin Raheem; the organisation’s Publicity Secretary, Pastor Olutola Folorunsho; and CDJ Acting Secretary, Comrade Bello Bello.

The groups said their intervention was not intended to endorse any political party or candidate but to protect the right of Nigerians to make their electoral choices freely.

They warned that unresolved disputes over nominations, membership registration and the application of electoral laws could weaken confidence in the 2027 elections, urging electoral authorities and political parties to address the controversies through transparent and lawful procedures.

Tinubu’s Fuel Price Contradiction: Economic Injustice Must End, Nigerians Must Defend Their 2027 Votes

President Bola Tinubu’s 30-day petrol price intervention has reopened a fundamental debate about economic consistency, the burden of fuel pricing on ordinary Nigerians and the government’s responsibility to protect citizens from worsening hardship.

The Federal Government’s decision to have NNPC Retail forgo its retail profit margin and sell petrol at cost raises questions about the relationship between the administration’s commitment to deregulation and its willingness to intervene when prices become politically and economically difficult to sustain.

During a televised interview, Tinubu responded to a question from Babajide Kolade Otitoju about controlling petrol prices by declaring that he did not believe in price control. The publicly available interview provides a basis for examining the consistency of the administration’s current approach.

Although the Presidency has clarified that the 30-day measure is not a restoration of blanket fuel subsidy, Nigerians deserve a clear explanation of its scope, implementation and likely consequences when it expires.

The central question is straightforward: why should citizens bear the full weight of harsh economic adjustments only to receive temporary relief when the consequences become increasingly difficult to ignore?Economic policies must serve the people

The removal of longstanding petroleum price support and the adoption of market oriented policies have significantly altered the economic conditions confronting Nigerian households. Rising transport expenses affect food prices, workers’ disposable incomes, small businesses and the cost of accessing essential services.

For millions of Nigerians, the debate is not simply about whether petrol prices are determined by market forces. It is about whether wages, public services and social protection can sustain a decent standard of living under prevailing economic conditions.

Government must therefore be judged by the practical consequences of its policies. Economic reform cannot be considered successful merely because it changes pricing arrangements or satisfies a particular economic doctrine. It must also demonstrate measurable improvements in livelihoods, productivity, employment and public welfare.

Nigerians must not be impoverished by government policies only to be offered short-term relief as an instrument of electoral persuasion. Poverty must never become a weapon for trading away the people's economic dignity or democratic choices.

Nigeria’s foreign economic agreements require transparency

The Nigeria–France tax cooperation memorandum and the September 2026 Nigeria–United States mineral investment pact also deserve public scrutiny.

The tax cooperation arrangement involves collaboration between Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service and France’s tax authority. The mineral investment pact establishes a framework for American investment in Nigeria’s mineral sector, whose resources the Federal Government values at $700 billion.

International cooperation and foreign investment can offer opportunities for economic development. However, the public has a legitimate interest in understanding the terms of agreements that may affect national revenue, mineral wealth, regulatory authority and the distribution of economic benefits.

The government should explain how these arrangements protect Nigeria’s interests, strengthen domestic capacity, improve revenue generation and create tangible benefits for citizens and host communities.

Economic sovereignty is not necessarily incompatible with international partnerships. Rather, it requires that such partnerships be negotiated transparently, administered responsibly and structured to advance national development.

The temporary petrol price intervention raises another pressing question: what happens when the 30 days end?

The possibility of petrol prices reaching ₦2,200–₦2,500 per litre by December has been raised as a concern. Such figures should not be treated as confirmed future prices without reliable supporting evidence. Nevertheless, Nigerians deserve transparent information about the factors driving petroleum prices and the government’s plans for preventing further deterioration in living standards.

Comparisons with petrol prices in other countries are also insufficient when they ignore differences in wages, purchasing power, taxation, public transport, social protection and living standards.

The real measure of affordability is not the price displayed at a filling station alone. It is the proportion of a worker’s income required to purchase fuel and meet other essential needs.

A responsible economic policy must account for food, transportation, housing, healthcare, education and employment. The market cannot be treated as an abstract mechanism detached from the people whose daily lives depend on it.

2027: NIGERIANS MUST DEFEND THEIR DEMOCRATIC CHOICES 

Economic hardship and democratic accountability are closely connected. Citizens must be able to evaluate the performance of those in power and determine, through credible elections, whether they deserve another mandate.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, voters must organise to protect the integrity of the electoral process. Political parties, civil society organisations, election observers and citizens should monitor polling activities, document irregularities, report violations and pursue lawful remedies.

The responsibility to protect the ballot extends beyond election day. It includes defending the transparency of the entire process, demanding accountability from electoral institutions and insisting that every legitimate vote counts.

Governor Babagana Zulum and other political figures whose public statements have raised concerns about electoral manipulation must understand that Nigerians will not accept the subversion of their democratic rights.

No politician owns Nigeria’s democracy. No political party has the right to impose an electoral outcome contrary to the lawful choices of voters.

Our response to electoral fraud, intimidation and the denial of legitimate mandates must be organised, peaceful, lawful and resolute.

Our call to action

Mẹkunnu Kọya calls on Nigerians to demand:

* Transparent petrol pricing: Clear information about the 30-day intervention, its implementation and the arrangements that will follow its expiration.

* Economic accountability: Public explanations of policies and agreements affecting national revenue, mineral resources and citizens’ welfare.

* People centred economic reforms: Policies that address purchasing power, employment, the cost of living and the protection of vulnerable households.

* Credible elections: Effective monitoring, transparent procedures and lawful action against electoral fraud and intimidation.

- Protection of the people’s mandate: A collective commitment to ensuring that every legitimate vote is counted and respected.

Nigeria cannot build a just society by asking its citizens to endure indefinite hardship while denying them meaningful accountability. Nor can democracy flourish when voters fear that their choices may be manipulated.

The struggle for economic dignity and the defence of the ballot are inseparable. Nigerians must neither surrender their economic future to policies that impoverish them nor surrender their democratic mandates to those who seek to subvert them.

Our message is clear:

ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE!

NO RIGGING, NO STOLEN MANDATE!

PROTECT THE VOTE, DEFEND THE PEOPLE’S WILL!

Comrade Wale Balogun is the Convener of Mẹkunnu Kọya. He writes from Lagos.

9 October 2026.

Rhodes-Vivour to APC: Stop Majoring on My Yoruba, Face Lagos’ Problems

 ADC candidate accuses ruling party of using Yoruba controversy to divert attention from roads, flooding, housing, traffic and waste crisis

By Our Correspondent

African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately turning the controversy over his Yoruba proficiency into a political distraction from the worsening challenges confronting Lagos residents.

Rhodes-Vivour, reacting to the mockery directed at his Yoruba language ability, said those attacking him should instead explain how more than two decades of APC administration had improved the lives of ordinary Lagosians.

He said the APC's focus on his Yoruba was an attempt to make Lagosians “major on the minor” rather than confront the realities of life in the state.

“As usual, the APC has resorted to its familiar strategy of distraction. Its loudest voices are not talking about the impact of their government on the people of Lagos.”

According to him, the issues demanding urgent attention include deteriorating roads, worsening flooding, a housing crisis, unreliable public water supply, crippling traffic and growing environmental degradation.

“They are not telling Lagosians how they have made their lives better. They are not talking about the state of our roads, the worsening flooding, the housing crisis, the lack of reliable public water, the traffic crisis or the growing filth across our city.”

Rhodes-Vivour said the same pattern of distraction was deployed during the 2023 election, when, according to him, political thuggery, intimidation and violence were used to force the APC's way into office.

He accused the ruling party of maintaining a political culture in which violence and intimidation are used to compensate for the inability to win public confidence through governance and performance.

“Why won’t the APC confront this problem? Because they depend on the same thugs and the same culture of political violence to force their way into power.”

He argued that a government confident in its record should be willing to defend that record before the people rather than shift public attention to peripheral controversies.

‘Lagos Traffic Is Not a Lifestyle’

Rhodes-Vivour also criticised the government's handling of transportation, housing, infrastructure and water supply.

He said roads have deteriorated, flooding has become more widespread, rents have continued to rise and affordable housing remains grossly inadequate.

On traffic, he accused the government of abandoning the search for lasting solutions and attempting instead to normalise congestion as an inevitable feature of Lagos.

“They have effectively given up on solving the traffic crisis. Now, instead of admitting failure and fixing the problem, they tell us that traffic is a ‘lifestyle.’”

He also questioned the state of public water supply, saying many Lagos communities continue to live without dependable access to government-provided water.

‘That Is Why Lagos Stinks’

The ADC candidate reserved some of his strongest criticism for waste management.

Rhodes-Vivour said Lagos operated more than 1,000 Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste trucks under former Governor Babatunde Fashola, but that the number has fallen to roughly 200 despite more than 12 years of APC administration.

He questioned how a rapidly expanding megacity could experience such a drastic reduction in waste collection capacity.

According to him, the problem is not simply the number of trucks but a waste management system undermined by corruption, poor management and what he described as racketeering around diesel, truck leasing and waste collection.

“The problem is not simply a lack of trucks. It is a system that has been weakened by corruption, poor management and alleged racketeering around diesel, truck leasing and waste collection.”

Rhodes-Vivour said the consequence is increasingly visible in communities across Lagos.

“That is why Lagos stinks.”

For him, the waste crisis is a governance failure, not merely a question of residents keeping their immediate surroundings clean.

‘We Must Stop Allowing Them to Change the Subject’

Rhodes-Vivour said his criticism of the APC does not diminish the importance he attaches to Yoruba language, culture and heritage.

Rather, he argued that cultural identity should not be weaponised to distract Lagosians from demanding accountability on governance.

He challenged the APC to stop changing the subject and answer the fundamental question confronting the state after years in power.

“The question is not who can shout the loudest. The question is, after all these years in power, have they made Lagos better for the ordinary Lagosian?”

He urged Lagosians to keep their attention on the issues that directly affect their lives.

“That is the conversation we should be having. That is the conversation they want us to avoid. And that is exactly the conversation we must continue to have.”

For Rhodes-Vivour, the central issue is therefore not whether he can satisfy his political opponents in a Yoruba language exchange, but whether those who have governed Lagos for years can demonstrate that their policies have delivered a better, cleaner, safer and more affordable city for ordinary Lagosians.

The message from the ADC candidate is unmistakable: Lagosians should not allow a debate over language to displace the bigger debate over governance, accountability and the quality of life in Lagos.

CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND THE HYPOCRISY OF ETHNIC POLITICS IN LAGOS

 

Culture is the total way of life of a people. It encompasses our folklore, songs, dances, dressing, food, religion, traditions and, most importantly, our language. Through language, a people communicate, preserve their history, transmit knowledge and values, and pass their collective worldview from one generation to another.

Language is therefore not merely a means of communication; it is a repository of identity and collective memory. A people who lose their language risk losing an important part of their cultural consciousness. This is why the countries generally regarded as developed have preserved and promoted their indigenous languages in governance, education, social interaction and knowledge production, despite the historical exploitation of Africa's human and material resources by many of those same powers.

Colonialism deliberately disrupted this cultural continuity in Africa. Colonial languages were imposed on African societies and became official or dominant languages, while indigenous religions, traditions and systems of knowledge were systematically undermined. Christianity and Islam subsequently became dominant religious traditions across much of Africa.

The consequences of this cultural dislocation remain evident today. Yet cultural identity cannot be reduced to the ability to speak a particular language. Speaking Yoruba fluently does not automatically make someone a better Yoruba person, just as not speaking Yoruba fluently does not make someone less Yoruba. Commitment to a people's history, culture, traditions, values and collective advancement must also be taken into consideration.

It is against this background that I find the current campaign of blackmail and propaganda against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, simply because he does not speak Yoruba fluently, both appalling and intellectually dishonest.

The APC propaganda machinery and its political data boys are making a spectacle of Gbadebo's language proficiency, as though fluency in Yoruba were the ultimate measure of Yoruba identity, political legitimacy or commitment to Lagos.

It is not.

On several fronts, Gbadebo has demonstrated a strong commitment to Yoruba culture and tradition. From close observation, his cultural identification is more visible than that of many of those now attacking him.

Gbadebo hardly wears English or other foreign modes of dressing and attire. He is frequently seen in Yoruba traditional clothing, including fitting caps, as part of his normal public appearance. This is significant because cultural identity should not be something politicians remember only when elections are approaching.

His public identification with Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, the indigenous Yoruba religious and cultural system, is another important dimension of his cultural outlook.

The argument about Gbadebo's Yoruba identity is further strengthened by the fact that Yoruba traditionalists have publicly defended his Yoruba lineage and explained the basis for his Obalefun title.

At the same time, some of those presenting themselves as the ultimate defenders of Yoruba identity have historically shown little interest in preserving indigenous African spirituality and traditional institutions, even while promoting Christianity and Islam.

Again, there is nothing wrong with Nigerians practising Christianity or Islam. Freedom of religion is fundamental.

The issue is consistency. It is difficult to accept the argument that a person's Yoruba identity should be questioned because he cannot speak Yoruba fluently while the same political environment routinely celebrates foreign religious and cultural influences and, in some instances, commits public resources to religious pilgrimages.

Culture should not become an electoral costume, and language should not become a weapon of ethnic exclusion.

THE SAME OLD "ỌMỌ ÌGBÒ" PROPAGANDA

We saw this same politics during the 2023 governorship election, when the campaign of calumny portrayed Gbadebo as Ọmọ Ìgbò, suggesting that his allegiance would be to the Igbo people simply because his mother is Igbo.

This was primitive ethnic politics.

The hypocrisy becomes even clearer when we consider the extensive inter-ethnic relationships within Nigeria's political class itself.

The late Rotimi Akeredolu, a prominent Yoruba politician and APC governor of Ondo State, was married to Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, an Igbo woman from Imo State. Their marriage was publicly known, and Betty herself spoke about the ethnic prejudices surrounding their relationship.

So why should Gbadebo's Igbo maternal heritage suddenly become evidence that he cannot be trusted with the affairs of Lagos?

Why should marriage or maternal ancestry determine political loyalty?

Lagos itself is a product of centuries of interaction among different peoples. It is a cosmopolitan city with a deep Yoruba historical and cultural foundation. Being Yoruba does not require Lagos to become an ethnic prison.

The renewed campaign against Gbadebo is therefore empty. Lagosians are wiser.

And I ask a simple question: how many times did Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his predecessors, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos, address Lagosians in Yoruba during major public engagements?

If language proficiency is to become the ultimate test of Yoruba identity and political legitimacy, the APC should apply its own standard consistently.

Let us stop pretending.

The real question before Lagos voters is not whether Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour speaks Yoruba with the fluency of someone born and raised in a Yoruba-speaking household.

The real questions are:

What does he have to offer Lagos?

Can he provide better governance?

Can he tackle flooding?

Can he address the housing crisis?

Can he improve transportation?

Can he create opportunities for young Lagosians?

Can he protect public resources?

Can he promote accountability and transparency?

Can he preserve Lagos's history, culture and heritage?

Can he offer Lagosians a credible alternative to the political dynasty that has dominated the state for the last 27 years?

These are the questions that should determine the future of Lagos—not whether a candidate's mother is Igbo or whether he previously struggled to speak Yoruba fluently.

Gbadebo has also taken steps to improve his Yoruba and has said publicly that he engaged a Yoruba teacher and intends to campaign in the language. That effort should be encouraged, not ridiculed. A person who recognises a weakness and takes deliberate steps to correct it should be commended.

The Yoruba electorate should therefore see beyond the shenanigans, ethnic rhetoric and propaganda surrounding Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

We should judge political candidates by their competence, integrity, commitment, vision and what they intend to do for the people.

The politics of saying "Gbadebo is Ọmọ Ìgbò" because his mother is Igbo is as mischievous as saying that somebody is automatically a better Yoruba because he can speak Yoruba fluently.

Yoruba identity is bigger than language alone. Yoruba civilisation is bigger than political propaganda. And the Yoruba people are bigger than politicians who exploit their identity for electoral advantage.

Our strong appeal to the Lagos electorate is therefore to vote for a credible alternative to the mischievous propaganda of the ruling party in Lagos.

Let Lagosians reject ethnic blackmail.

Let Lagosians reject political manipulation.

Let Lagosians demand competence, accountability and development.

Let Lagosians choose a government that belongs to the people rather than a political dynasty.

And let the Akotileta government understand one thing:

Yorùbá ò pọnú — Yoruba people are not stupid.

Comrade Wale Balogun
National Coordinator, Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM)
Convener, Mẹkunnu Kọya
Writes from Lagos
4 October 2026