In order to protest the closing of the church’s headquarters at 34 Omuma Road Aba, clergymen from the Apostolic Christian Church Mission marched to the streets of Aba, the capital city of Abia State.
Following a protracted leadership conflict that shook the church, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had ordered the closure of the church’s headquarters.
The directive was included in a statement dated December 31, 2022, and signed by Chris Ezem, Secretary to the State Government.
In their cassocks, the protesting priests marched to the governor’s lodge while singing gospel songs and laying forth their grievances.
Some of them carried signs that read, “Ikpeazu should open the national headquarters of ACCM,” “ACCM does not encourage tribalism, Let governor Ikpeazu unseal the headquarters of ACCM,” and other statements.
Apostle Christopher Ogbuagu and Rev. Ugochukwu Onugha, the church’s spokesman, accused Ikpeazu of reportedly attempting to persuade the church’s leadership to favor his Kinsmen.
The two, who acknowledged that the church was currently dealing with a leadership issue, questioned why the governor, who is not a member of the church, was interested in the situation. The case is currently before the Owerri division of the Court of Appeal.
The group’s statement, which was provided to our correspondent, stated that a small number of church elders—mostly politicians who also happen to be related to the governor of the state of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu—want to impose an unpopular bishop on the church in response to the passing of the previous Bishop.
The next in line is a career missionary by the name of Rev. Apostle John U. Esinna; the financial secretary of the church, who is not a career missionary of the church, rose up and is receiving the support of the governor’s kinsmen and political allies; led by Chief Theo Nkire, a former attorney general of Abia state, and Elder Godwin Nna, a former commissioner and local government chairman. Over 98% of the clergy and people support Rev. J.U. Esinna’s leadership, but a minuscule minority led by Theo Nkire is trying everything in their power to impose P. C. Erondu on the church.
The case is even currently before the Court of Appeal in Owerri, but instead of waiting patiently and lawfully for the court’s decision, Theo Nkire’s group has used every legal tactic at their disposal to coerce the church. Their most recent maneuver was to convince the governor to shut down the church’s headquarters in order to intimidate churchgoers who oppose his relatives.
He even referred to the pro-Esnna group’s leaders as criminals when he declared its leaders wanted on the state-run radio station. The entire clergy has started a peaceful demonstration because they are tired of the governor of Abia state’s ongoing engagement, meddling, and intimidation.
The purpose of this is to inform the public that the state governor should be held accountable for any harm that occurs to any of our leaders and that he should relinquish control of the church. The governor is interfering in a church matter that is even before the court of Appeal and attempting to intimidate the church into accepting a nonclergy as their Bishop because his relatives and political allies are involved.
