Primate Elijah Ayodele attacks Tinubu endorsement, says bishops are hungry

Primate Elijah Ayodele has criticised Nigerian bishops who recently endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, saying their decision was driven by personal interests rather than a divine instruction.

Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, made the claim on Friday through a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin.

He accused the bishops of seeking personal benefits from the president. According to him, their endorsement did not come from genuine support for Mr Tinubu.

Ayodele also warned the president against celebrating the endorsement. He described it as “fake” and urged Mr Tinubu to examine the motives behind the support.

The cleric said the bishops were more interested in securing benefits than expressing a sincere political conviction.

He argued that their public praise of the president could therefore be linked to what they expected to receive from his administration.

However, Primate Elijah Ayodele did not provide evidence to support his claim that the bishops endorsed Mr Tinubu because they were seeking personal benefits.

The remarks come as political activities around the 2027 presidential election continue to build. Public endorsements by religious and community leaders can influence political discussions, especially when they come from prominent figures.

At the same time, such endorsements can attract criticism when observers question the motives behind them.

For President Tinubu, the controversy raises a wider question about the value of political endorsements. Support from influential groups can strengthen a political campaign, but it can also create public debate over whether such support reflects genuine conviction.

Meanwhile, Ayodele’s comments have added another voice to the growing political conversation ahead of the next presidential election.