General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev Sam Aboyeji, has described early political campaigning ahead of the 2027 elections as a distraction from governance and a disservice to Nigerians.
Aboyeji, who criticised the growing trend, said the practice was an unhelpful tradition that undermined development and denied citizens the dividends of democracy. He argued that the current administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, was still in its early stages and should be given time before being subjected to political scrutiny.
He spoke on Monday at a press briefing held at the church’s national headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, to announce activities marking the 70th anniversary of the church.
The cleric warned against the increasing use of public engagements by politicians as campaign platforms, saying such conduct was counterproductive.
“The Yaba Church, which serves as the national headquarters of the Foursquare Gospel Church, has attained 70 years of preaching the gospel and delivering humanitarian services—an achievement truly worth celebrating,” he said.
Describing the milestone as a testament to steadfast faith and social responsibility, Aboyeji emphasised the church’s mission of spiritual renewal and soul-winning.
Activities to mark the anniversary will commence on July 21 at the Yaba headquarters and include a colour parade, inter-school quiz competition, colloquium, exhibition, praise night, Special Blast (Youth Connect), award/gala night, and a grand finale on July 27.
“With over 5,000 churches across Nigeria, we are driven by a collective zeal to expand our reach through impactful community programmes such as free medical outreaches, soul-lifting musical experiences, and robust community services to share God’s love,” he said.
He added that the anniversary would also serve as a platform to reconnect with members both at home and in the diaspora, and to recognise key contributors to the church’s development.
Looking ahead, the General Overseer noted that with a largely youth-based demographic, the church would invest more in empowering young people and expanding its humanitarian efforts.
“After 70, many of our church leaders are aging and the Nigerian church is 80 per cent youth generation. So, we have over the years been planting youths in strategic positions in the church in order for them to take over after the aged ones,” he said.
He reiterated that community service remained a core focus of the church and would be scaled up to reach unserved populations.
(NAN)