ADC Candidate Rhodes-Vivour Faces Backlash Over Yoruba Response

At the 2026 Independence Day edition of The Platform, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Lagos State governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), encountered a heated situation during a question-and-answer session. A participant asked him how he would preserve Yoruba culture, tradition, and language if elected governor, referencing a recent interview Rhodes-Vivour had with journalist Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television.

The participant expressed concern over Yoruba children in Lagos not being able to speak their indigenous language, citing examples from China and India. Rhodes-Vivour's response in English led to protests from some audience members who insisted he should answer in Yoruba.

He acknowledged the significance of language in carrying culture and heritage but pointed out that his focus as a candidate was governance. He criticized the Lagos State education system for punishing students for speaking Yoruba and suggested that such questions should be directed to representatives of the Lagos State Government present at the event.