The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday vehemently denied allegations made by politician Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour that its officers were collaborating with “APC thugs” to create a one-party state.
The command countered by accusing Mr. Rhodes-Vivour of illegally holding a political rally inside a church campground, causing “pandemonium and disorder” among worshippers.
The dispute stems from an interview Mr. Rhodes-Vivour gave on ARISE NEWS TELEVISION’s “The Morning Show” on Sunday, September 7, 2025. He accused the police of partisan conduct following events in the Alimosho Local Government Area a day earlier.
In a detailed rebuttal signed by Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Babaseyi B. Oluseyi, the command stated that its heavy presence in Alimosho was a proactive measure “solely to ensure law and order, protect citizens, and guarantee public safety,” not to advance any political agenda.
According to the police statement, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had officially notified the command of a voter registration sensitisation event on Saturday, September 6, at Lion Field, Iyana-Ipaja. Police were deployed for protection, and the event concluded peacefully.
However, the command stated it received no such notification from Mr. Rhodes-Vivour for any political gathering in the area.
The situation escalated around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday when police received distress calls from the Christ Gospel Mission International Campground. Reports indicated chaos had erupted, forcing worshippers at a special prayer program to flee for safety.
The Commissioner of Police personally led an intervention team to the scene. “On arrival, it was discovered, based on accounts from worshippers, that a political rally was being forcefully held inside the religious premises without the approval or authorisation of the church,” the statement read.
Police said they promptly restored normalcy. The command also refuted specific claims made by Mr. Rhodes-Vivour during his television appearance, stating, “At no time was a Deputy Commissioner posted to act as a gateman at the campground,” and that officers observed no damaged coaster buses at the scene.
The command reprimanded Mr. Rhodes-Vivour, calling his alleged intrusion into the church a “sacrilegious act, capable of endangering lives and jeopardising public safety.” It emphasised that places of worship are not venues for political rallies.
Furthermore, the police noted that as of Sunday morning, more than 30 hours after the incident, no formal complaint regarding injuries or property damage had been lodged by Mr. Rhodes-Vivour or his supporters at any police station in Lagos State.
The Lagos State Police Command concluded by reaffirming its commitment to remaining “neutral, apolitical, and non-partisan” in the discharge of its duties.
