Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s 2027 Lagos governorship candidate, is facing fresh criticism over his command of Yoruba after a video at The Platform Nigeria’s October 1 event showed him responding to a question asked him in Yoruba and about Yoruba culture in English.
The clip has since spread widely online, generating debate on which matters more in the state’s leadership: culture or competence.
Rhodes-Vivour is an architect and entrepreneur. He finished second in the 2023 Lagos election on the Labour Party platform. This isn’t the first time his knowledge of Yoruba is coming under scrutiny. His father is Yoruba and his mother is Igbo. 
In 2023, he said he understood and spoke the language but was not fluent, a fact that was well-documented in the video.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and the Yoruba Question
The moment came at the Independence Day edition of The Platform on October 1. An attendee asked in Yoruba what the aspiring governor would do to preserve Yoruba culture, tradition and language. The questioner worried that many Yoruba children in Lagos cannot speak the language.
Rhodes-Vivour began his reply in English to raucous reaction, as sections of the audience protested and demanded Yoruba. He eventually calmed the room and delivered part of his answer in Yoruba, and the video shows him struggling with the language.
Some outlets called the exchange light-hearted. Others called it an uproar.
What Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Said
He opened with a firm statement. “Lagos is Yorubaland. No doubt about it,” he said, adding that language carries the culture and heritage of the people.
ADC flagbearer then turned to the state government, and blamed more than two decades of APC rule for how Yoruba is treated in schools. He claimed pupils who speak it are told it is vernacular and are punished. He asked the questioner to raise these concerns with government officials present at the event.
Rhodes-Vivour’s message was clear. Governance, not grammar, is his focus. He made a similar point on Arise TV weeks earlier. He said he had hired a Yoruba teacher, and also noted that flooding, housing and traffic affect residents regardless of ethnic background.
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The Policy Pitch
At the same event, Rhodes-Vivour laid out his plans. He proposed 100,000 housing units within four years. “We aim to do 100,000 in four years,” he said. Residents would make monthly payments while building credit towards ownership. He also promised tenant protections.
On transport, he promised to finish Lagos’s rail lines, saying this could happen within two years by opening procurement to private-sector partners.
Culture or Competence? The Debate
The clip has split opinion online. Critics say a Lagos governor should speak to the people in their own language. For them, the question was fair. It was asked in Yoruba, and language is tied to identity.
Supporters, however, claim a trap. They argue that flooding, housing and traffic do not depend on who speaks Yoruba best. One Nairaland user said his point about vernacular punishment was spot on. The same user said he struggled to deliver a Yoruba proverb.
Politics is shaping the argument too. Lagos APC spokesman Seye Oladejo recently reportedly said learning Yoruba is welcome but not enough to show an understanding of Lagos.
The line cuts both ways. It suggests policy should count more. It also suggests the language effort has not settled the matter.
History adds context. Groups such as Afenifere and Eko Forum defended his Lagos roots during the 2023 controversy. They argued against questioning his belonging over his mother’s ancestry or his fluency.
Lagos is also home to many ethnic groups. Some voters therefore want a governor who delivers services to everyone. Others see cultural fluency as proof of connection to the city’s original people.
Both views are being argued loudly.
What Remains Unclear
The viral clip does not show how most voters feel. No poll has measured whether language will sway the 2027 vote. The reports also do not show whether the exchange has changed the candidate’s standing.
What is clear is that Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has been pushed back into a familiar debate. He must now show that his policy plans can outweigh questions about his Yoruba. Voters will decide whether they do.
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