Rhodes-Vivour petitions police, alleges threat from NURTW chairman

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has petitioned the Lagos State Police Command over alleged intimidation and threats to life by the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state, Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego.

The petition, dated October 8, 2025, and signed by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command. It accused Adekunle and other members of the union of issuing violent threats against political opponents ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the petition, a viral video recorded on September 25, 2025, allegedly showed Adekunle warning Lagos residents against supporting any political candidate opposed to President Bola Tinubu in the next election.

Sego is heard issuing menacing statements, in a mix of Yoruba and English, interpreted as threats against opposition and dissenters. The lawyers described these statements as “chilling” and capable of inciting violence or panic.

reports that before the petition, Sego had publicly denied that he made any inciting remarks, stating that he also complied with a summons from the Department of State Services.

Sego also insisted that his comments were misconstrued and not intended to threaten anyone politically.

Effiong, writing on behalf of Rhodes-Vivour and the Lagos leadership of the ADC on Wednesday, described Adekunle’s remarks as “chilling” and capable of inciting violence, noting that the conduct amounted to “criminal intimidation and a threat to life.”

Rhodes-Vivour, who was the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 election, is expected to contest again in 2027 under the ADC.

Reacting to the development in a post on his X page on Wednesday, Rhodes-Vivour said the petition was filed to put on record that his party had chosen lawful means to resist intimidation.

“Earlier today, the ADC submitted our petition to the police against Mustapha Adekunle of the NURTW. We did this for public record, so that in future it will not be said that we did not pursue civilised recourse to their aggression and intimidation,” he wrote.

He accused the All Progressives Congress-led administration in Lagos of using state-backed gangs to suppress opposition voices.

“For over twenty-four years, the President and his Lagos APC allies have controlled this state. After more than two decades in power, they have no credible record of achievement to run on.

“Violence is the last refuge of incompetence. We are the many and they are the few. In due course, Nigerians will demonstrate that we are not cowards,” he added.

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