Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV), the 2023 Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State and a key contender in the 2027 race, has been conferred with the revered chieftaincy title of “Obalefun” by the Omoluabi royal elite circle of Ijo Olorisa Parapo in the Badagry Division. The title, awarded during a coronation ceremony held over the weekend, marks a symbolic recognition of his deepening ties to the cultural and traditional leadership across Lagos.
The event, which drew an array of traditional rulers and prominent community leaders, was conducted under the authority of the Akran of Badagry and the Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Chiefs. Among the dignitaries present were Chief Babatunde Wusu, Onitiju Baale of Yovokome Boekoh in Badagry, and other custodians of the IBILE cultural identity — an acronym representing the five traditional divisions of Lagos: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.
Rhodes-Vivour, a descendant of the prominent Popo Aguda family in Lagos Island, attended the ceremony accompanied by his father, Babatunde Rhodes-Vivour, his wife, and siblings. In a parallel honor, he was also inducted as a Peace Ambassador of Ijo Olorisa Parapo, acknowledging his commitment to peace-building and grassroots community development across the state.
Political Implications for 2027: A Calculated Cultural Strategy?
While the conferral of a chieftaincy title is traditionally a cultural honor, GRV’s latest move carries clear political undertones. In a state like Lagos — where ethnic identity, traditional institutions, and political loyalty are often intertwined — aligning with indigenous communities, especially in historically overlooked divisions like Badagry, can be a powerful electoral strategy.
GRV’s 2023 campaign shook the political status quo in Lagos, garnering significant support among urban youths, progressives, and a coalition of disgruntled voters. However, critics pointed to his perceived lack of grassroots connections, particularly in Lagos’s more rural and traditional divisions. This new title not only strengthens his symbolic claim to “Lagosian authenticity” but also signals an effort to bridge the cultural-political divide that has historically limited opposition figures in the state.
Moreover, by receiving recognition from traditional rulers across the IBILE spectrum — and not just from his Lagos Island base — GRV appears to be repositioning himself as a pan-Lagos candidate, capable of appealing beyond the urban progressive bloc to the broader indigenous electorate.
For the Labour Party, which is yet to fully consolidate its 2023 gains into a solid grassroots structure, GRV’s traditional endorsement could serve as a catalyst for broader political penetration. It suggests a more strategic campaign ahead of 2027 — one that blends youthful energy with cultural legitimacy.
Still, questions remain: will symbolic gestures translate to votes? Can the Labour Party effectively organize across all five divisions? And how will the ruling APC respond to GRV’s growing cultural capital?
What is certain is this: the race for Lagos in 2027 has begun — and GRV is playing a long, strategic game.
