Rhodes-Vivour Hires Yoruba Teacher Ahead of 2027 Lagos Guber Bid

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress candidate for Lagos governor in 2027, announced on Thursday that he has engaged a language instructor and acquired the ability to campaign in Yoruba. The statement comes during an interview on Arise Television and marks a direct response to backlash he faced during the 2023 election cycle, when his remarks about not thinking in the Yoruba language drew sustained criticism from voters and opponents.

Rhodes-Vivour acknowledged that cultural and linguistic ties matter to Lagos residents but framed his language training as one element of a broader campaign agenda. He indicated his priority remains addressing concrete governance challenges—including flooding and housing shortages—that affect the state's population.

The candidate's decision to formally study Yoruba represents a strategic shift in how he intends to connect with voters in a state where the language carries significant cultural weight. In separate remarks during the same media appearance, Rhodes-Vivour called for the disqualification of his All Progressives Congress rival, Obafemi Hamzat, citing Hamzat's oath of allegiance to a foreign nation tied to dual citizenship.

Rhodes-Vivour distinguished between acquiring dual citizenship at birth versus obtaining it in adulthood, arguing this distinction has legal and constitutional implications for electoral eligibility. The 2023 governorship race saw language become an unexpected flashpoint in the Lagos political contest, with Rhodes-Vivour's earlier comments interpreted by some voters as cultural detachment.

His current efforts to demonstrate Yoruba proficiency signal an attempt to neutralize that particular vulnerability heading into the 2027 race.