Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has rejected claims that he endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term during the unveiling of his 2026 prophecies.
The cleric described the reports as inaccurate and misleading, insisting that his comments at the event were taken out of context and wrongly framed as political support.
In a statement released on Sunday and signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele clarified that he neither backed Tinubu nor any other political figure at the prophecy presentation held on December 20, 2025.
According to the statement, the prophet expressed concern that despite providing explanations during the event, a national newspaper still portrayed his remarks as an endorsement.
“I was shocked to read that I supposedly endorsed President Tinubu for a second term,” Ayodele said.
“That narrative is disturbing and does not reflect what I said at the event.”
Moreover, he stressed that his role as a religious leader excludes partisan politics, noting that endorsement of candidates is outside his calling.
“I am not a politician and I am not seeking favour from anyone in power,” Ayodele said. “My duty is to speak as a prophet, not to campaign or endorse leaders.”
Setting the record straight, the cleric explained that his comments were a comparative assessment of leadership performance, not a declaration of political support.
He said he merely observed that Tinubu’s administration had shown more initiative than that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, while also predicting that integrity would influence voter decisions in future elections.
“What Nigerians should expect in 2027 is a shift toward integrity and competence,” he said. “Leadership choices will no longer be based solely on party loyalty.”
However, Ayodele also criticised governance gaps within the current administration, arguing that while Tinubu may have positive intentions, implementation remains a challenge.
“President Tinubu means well for Nigerians,” he said. “Unfortunately, some of those around him are not faithfully executing his vision.”
Furthermore, the prophet urged Nigerians to ignore reports suggesting he has taken sides politically, warning that such narratives misrepresent his long-standing position on governance issues.
He also called on journalists and media organisations to uphold professional ethics, particularly by verifying statements before publication.
“Journalism demands accuracy and balance,” Ayodele said. “When in doubt, clarification should be sought instead of creating false impressions.”
Hence, he reaffirmed that his focus remains spiritual guidance and national discourse, not political endorsement, as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.