BREAKING NEWS: Pastors Should Not Endorse Candidates, Christians Must Participate in Politics — Femi Emmanuel
Veteran preacher and former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, has advised pastors against endorsing political candidates from the pulpit while encouraging Christians to take a more active role in Nigeria’s political process.
Speaking during an interview on TVC, Emmanuel emphasized that the church has a responsibility to raise responsible citizens but should not become a platform for political campaigns or partisan endorsements.
According to him, congregations are made up of individuals with diverse political views and affiliations, making it inappropriate for religious leaders to direct members on who to vote for during elections.
“No pastor should endorse any candidate from the pulpit, but Christians must stop treating politics like a forbidden territory,” Emmanuel stated during the interview.
The cleric lamented that many Christians have been conditioned to view politics as a dirty venture that should be avoided. He argued that this mindset has prevented many capable and principled individuals from participating in governance and leadership.
While maintaining that pastors should remain politically neutral, Emmanuel urged churches to educate members on the importance of civic engagement. He encouraged Christians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), join political parties, and participate in grassroots political activities.
He further explained that political participation does not necessarily mean partisanship. According to him, Christians can contribute positively to national development without turning churches into political campaign grounds.
Pastor Emmanuel noted that many of Nigeria’s leadership and governance challenges persist because responsible citizens have distanced themselves from political structures where key decisions are made.
He therefore called on Christians to become more actively involved in democratic processes that produce credible leaders, stressing that greater participation would promote accountability, transparency, and good governance.
Concluding his remarks, Emmanuel urged pastors to remain focused on preaching the gospel while also helping believers understand their civic duties, adding that active citizenship is essential for meaningful national development and national progress.
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