Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has explained why he has never cast a ballot in a Nigerian election.
Adeboye claimed in a sermon on Sunday that he has never cast a ballot because he doesn’t want to be unfair or biased toward any of the contenders.
All of the presidential candidates, according to the well-liked cleric, are his offspring, and the church has strong ties to all the political parties.
However, he urged the people of his church to sign up for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and make sure to cast their votes for any candidate of their choosing in the general elections of 2023.
He said: “The only reason I have never voted is that if I vote for anyone, I will be unjust to the rest of my children, I am the father of all and I like it that way. All I am saying and I am saying it loud and clear, as a Nigerian, everyone of you, you are Nigerians before you became a Christian, because nobody is born a Christian. You are a true Christian because you gave your life to Jesus Christ.
“Before you became a Christian, you are a Nigerian, you have a duty to your country, to register, to vote, to make sure that your vote should count, you have a duty to belong to any party of your choice at the very grassroots, you can’t sit down, fold your hand, refuse to vote and then begin to complain about the government.
“What were you doing when they were voting? They were voting, you sat down at home, you did not register and then some people came round and selected for you whether at the gubernatorial level, presidential level or local government level. They chose for you because you refuse to do anything and then you begin to complain.
“You must register, you must vote, you must sit down there after you have voted until they count the vote, you must know who they said won. You must make sure there is no more rigging in Nigeria. I don’t care which is your party, I don’t care who you vote for but do your duty, that is what I am asking you to do and you must do it.”
Speaking further, Adeboye told RCCG members not to distract his attention and that they can vote for any candidate of their choice in next year’s elections.
He stated that his assignment is to pray for his church members and the country, stressing that his assignment had nothing to do with partisan politics.
“My assignment is to pray for you, including Nigeria, my assignment has nothing to do with partisan politics. Don’t distract my attention. You will bear me witness, those of you who are genuine members of Redeemed Christian Church of God, I have never told you this is the person you should vote for.
“Have I ever told you that whether in secret or in open? Never. I have never said this is the party you should belong to, I have never said it and I will never say it. And you know why because, in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, every party is heavily represented. Everyone, APC, PDP, APGA, Labour Party, etc,” he said.
