Sekinat Osundiji
The Deputy Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Babatunde Gbadamosi has explained why he accepted the offer to run as a running mate to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, GRV, the party’s governorship candidate, ahead of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.
Gbadamosi said he was initially not disposed to the idea but reconsidered after he was approached by Rhodes-Vivour to join him in the race.
He said the decision presented an opportunity to send a message to Nigeria’s political class about the need to return to a system where young people play a greater role in governance.
According to him, GRV approached him and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to achieve their political objective.
He said, “I was approached. His Excellency, Chief Bayo Rotimi reached out to me and said, ‘Look, we need to do this thing together. I can’t do it alone. I need every hand on deck, and yours, in my opinion, would make a big difference.’
“And at first, I was not disposed to the idea that I should come and run as his deputy. But then, I thought about it.
“And I realised that here was an opportunity to drive a message home to the political class in Nigeria, that we must return to our roots.”
Gbadamosi said Nigeria had recorded periods of growth whenever younger people were given the opportunity to occupy leadership positions.
He added, “Every time we’ve had a growth spurt in Nigeria, because that’s how we’ve grown, grown in spurts and starts. Every time we’ve had a growth spurt in Nigeria, it’s been because young people have been at the helm at the time.”
He said his decision to join the race was therefore driven by the need to promote a new generation of leaders and challenge the political class to give younger Nigerians a greater role in shaping the country’s future.
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