The Lagos State 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has raised alarm over an alleged plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to tarnish his image.
According to Rhodes-Vivour, APC is plotting a smear campaign against him to distract people from the party’s failure to tackle the current economic and security challenges confronting the nation.
He stated this on Tuesday in a statement which was obtained by NewsNGR.
The former LP governorship candidate recounted how the APC allegedly attacked him and his family with “untruths and defamatory” statements during the 2023 governorship campaign.
“It has come to my attention that the ruling APC has orchestrated a smear campaign in an attempt to tarnish my reputation through baseless and malicious character assassination. This planned campaign is a clear act of desperation to distract the public from the party’s glaring incompetence and lack of innovative solutions for the suffering of our people and our nation’s pressing issues.
“During the campaign, while I appeared on several debate platforms and engaged various stakeholders on our policy solutions, the APC focused on spreading lies, hate and fear. They lied about my family heritage and twisted my comments to suit their deceitful narrative. They viciously attacked my family with untruths and defamatory remarks all in an attempt to distract the public from issues that really matter, issues that we are all now forced to deal with. Issues such as hunger whilst our political elite continue to live lavishly, flooding whilst they move around in their jeeps, unemployment whilst they borrow money to fund their luxurious lifestyle without accountability or transparency.
“Their lies didn’t deter us then, and it will not deter us now. We will continue to push our message of a new Lagos, Ourlagos,” Rhodes-Vivour.
He urged the people to disregard any negative information about him, adding that he is committed to social democratic values and the pursuit of meaningful progress for Lagos State.
“Therefore, I urge the public to remain vigilant and critically assess any disseminated negative information. Such propaganda is a calculated move by the APC to divert attention away from their failures in governance and their inability to effectively address the needs and concerns of the people.
“I stand firm in my commitment to social democratic values and the pursuit of meaningful progress for our dear state. Let us not be swayed by these deceitful tactics but rather stay focused on holding those in office accountable,” Rhodes-Vivour added.
The LP chieftain gathered 312,329 votes to come second behind Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who polled 762,134 votes to win the March 2023 governorship election in Lagos.
Rhodes-Vivour has been very critical of the ruling APC both at the national level and Lagos.