Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Lagos, has dismissed the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by some Nigerian bishops, alleging that the clergymen acted out of hunger and self-interest rather than genuine spiritual conviction. In a statement released on Friday, September 11, 2026, through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, and sent to Legit.ng, the cleric accused the bishops of reducing the name of God to a tool for personal gain.
Bishops Accused of Selfish Motives
Ayodele asserted that the endorsements were not based on divine orders or God's direction, insisting that no such guidance would be given. He said the bishops were merely seeking to secure their next meal, which is why they were singing the president's praises.
“Bishops endorsing President Tinubu are hungry and looking for what to eat. They didn't do that endorsement because they love Tinubu but because they need some things from him. They just want to secure their next meal, and that is why they are singing the praises of the president,” Ayodele said.
He added: “The president must exercise caution before expressing joy over the endorsement because it is totally fake. They are not doing it based on divine orders or God's direction; there is no way God would give such direction. They are only lying on God's name because of food; it's such a bad thing that these Bishops reduced the name of God to this level.”
Warning to Tinubu on Second-Term Bid
The Lagos-based Christian leader extended his criticism to politicians backing the president for re-election, arguing that they are motivated by the same selfish logic. He warned that these supporters would turn against Tinubu if their demands were not met.
“Even politicians who are singing the praises of President Tinubu and endorsing him for a second term are not doing it for the love of the president; they are all doing it for selfish interests. They are not different from these Bishops. If President Tinubu doesn't give them what they want, they will be the first people to turn against him and endorse another person,” Ayodele stated.
Ayodele advised Tinubu not to be carried away by what he described as hollow praise, insisting that performance in office remains the only credible path to a second term. He said endorsements cannot secure a second term if the president does not perform well for the people.
“President Tinubu must know that endorsements cannot get him anywhere near a second term if he doesn't perform well for the people. Endorsements mean nothing; it is only his activities that can either secure or make him lose a second term in office. It would be better if he buckled up and put his house in order instead of allowing these endorsements to get into his head,” he said.
Political Context and Previous Predictions
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that ChatGPT predicted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would likely win Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, using the Four Horsemen framework. The prediction cited the current opposition coalition but noted the APC's edge due to possible low voter turnout and the Tinubu administration's efforts to stabilise the economy.
The political climate reached a point where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a warning that campaigning at that time was illegal, echoing the standpoint of popular human rights lawyer Femi Falana.
This article discusses prophetic claims for commentary and informational purposes. Readers are encouraged to form their own conclusions.
