RismadarVoice Reporters, August 11, 2026
The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Wale Oke, has stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission to remain impartial ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depends largely on the electoral body’s neutrality.
Oke also called on the Federal Government to take decisive action against religious extremists and criminal groups seeking to exploit religion to destabilise the country.
The cleric spoke with journalists during the 38th annual convention of Agape Christian Ministries in Akure, Ondo State.
Speaking on the 2027 elections, Oke urged INEC to operate independently and resist political interference.
He said the commission’s responsibility was to regulate political parties and conduct credible elections rather than support any political interest.
“INEC is a government functionary. It is not part of any political party. INEC is to regulate all political parties and to conduct elections, not to take sides with any,” he said.
The PFN president warned that any perception of bias by the electoral commission could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“We are demanding that for the exercise of our civil rights, INEC does not partake in partisan politics. The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy hangs in the balance,” he added.
Oke also advised political parties and candidates to avoid exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments during the election campaign.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise competence and fairness when choosing political leaders rather than allowing religious or ethnic considerations to determine political choices.
The cleric advocated religious balance in political leadership, arguing that both Christians and Muslims should have a sense of inclusion in government.
“Politicians should not play the ethnic card in choosing who leads us. They should not play the religious card,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s status as a secular nation requires political leaders to treat citizens of different faiths fairly.
“Because Nigeria is a secular state, there is no need for it to be altogether Muslim or altogether Christian. Don’t favour a religion against another. Be neutral. Nigeria must recover equitably. Everybody should have what belongs to him, no matter the religion he practices,” Oke said.
On insecurity, the PFN president condemned the use of religion to justify violence, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Oke alleged that some extremists were seeking to turn Nigeria into a caliphate, urging the Federal Government to confront such elements decisively.
“There are radicals who are bent on turning Nigeria into a caliphate state. But the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of worship,” he said.
He described kidnapping, attacks on schools and killings as criminal acts regardless of the religious identity of those responsible.
“Kidnapping is criminal. Taking children from school is criminal. Beheading is criminal. If anybody is doing that in the name of religion, he is a criminal, whether he is from the Christian side or from the Islamic side,” he stated.
Oke, however, stressed that the actions of extremists should not be used to condemn an entire religious community.
He urged responsible members of the Muslim community to help identify extremists and cooperate with law enforcement agencies in tackling criminality.
The cleric also emphasised that religious conversion should be based on persuasion rather than force.
“There is a difference between criminality and religion. The government must not tolerate criminality,” he said.
Oke also clarified his position on church titles, explaining that some titles used in modern churches may not be explicitly mentioned in the Bible but can serve administrative purposes as religious organisations grow.
He noted that titles such as bishop and evangelist are biblical, while other titles may have evolved to provide structure within expanding church organisations.
“The bishop is in the Bible. The evangelist is in the Bible. The archbishop is a senior bishop, or father of bishops. As the church grows and expands, structure is adjusted,” he explained.
According to him, the introduction of administrative titles does not necessarily make them unbiblical.
“There is a difference between what is not mentioned in the Bible and what is unbiblical. It is not a sin. It evolves with growth and enlargement,” Oke said.
The PFN president also encouraged Nigerians to continue seeking solutions to the country’s challenges, including insecurity and economic hardship, while urging citizens to remain hopeful about the nation’s future.
