​The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has launched a sharp criticism of successive state administrations, accusing them of consistently prioritizing elite interests over the basic welfare of ordinary residents.
​Speaking on Sunday evening, November 8, 2026, during the 2027 Lagos Governorship Debate organized by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos, Rhodes-Vivour argued that two decades of governance centered on luxury developments have widened inequality and failed to improve the day-to-day lives of the majority of citizens.
​Addressing political stakeholders, media practitioners, and voters at the event, which was organized by a coalition of major outlets including Channels Television, TVC News, The PUNCH, Vanguard, and TheCable, the ADC standard-bearer pointed to a sharp disconnect between the state’s soaring Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the practical economic realities of its residents.
He noted that while government figures celebrate financial growth on paper, ordinary people continue to struggle under the weight of systemic neglect.
​Rhodes-Vivour emphasized that all residents are currently enduring the consequences of bad governance that has become endemic across the metropolis over the last 20 years.
He singled out urban renewal schemes in low-income settlements like Makoko, alleging that current policies repeatedly place vulnerable communities at risk of displacement and losing their livelihoods to make room for commercial real estate targeting the affluent.
​Outlining his administration’s agenda, Rhodes-Vivour promised a comprehensive shift toward inclusive public policies and human-centered development. He pledged that an ADC government would deliver more than 100,000 affordable housing units through a transparent allocation system designed to curb property hoarding by speculative investors.
Under this housing policy, residents would benefit from progressive homeownership pathways that allow families to transition from studio apartments to larger multi-bedroom properties while building equity through mortgage points over time.
​On urban infrastructure and resilience, the candidate committed to deploying modern flood management systems inspired by international coastal engineering models, alongside implementing stricter building standards tied to mandatory long-term maintenance contracts.
He further highlighted plans to overhaul and integrate public transit networks across the state to significantly reduce daily commute times for workers.
​Rhodes-Vivour concluded his address by assuring voters that an ADC administration would ensure public funds directly translate into measurable improvements in living standards and basic infrastructure across all local government areas in Lagos State.
