2027 polls: Cleric backs INEC over election date
The planter of Christ Apostolic Church Adamimogo Grace and Mercy Worldwide, Prophet Sam Olu Alo, has expressed support for the Independent National Electoral Commission over the date fixed for the
- ...says voting during fasting will curb electoral malpractice
The planter of Christ Apostolic Church Adamimogo Grace and Mercy Worldwide, Prophet Sam Olu Alo, has expressed support for the Independent National Electoral Commission over the date fixed for the 2027 general elections.
The cleric stated that scheduling the polls during the Muslim fasting period would serve the nation’s interest, arguing that such a solemn period encourages discipline and reduces the likelihood of electoral malpractice that could undermine the process.
Reacting to objections from some quarters against holding the elections during the fasting season, Alo questioned the basis of the resistance.
He noted that in the past, elections had coincided with Christian fasting periods, particularly during Easter, without attracting similar opposition.
He urged the electoral umpire to maintain the 2027 timetable as presently constituted.
He said, "My advice is that in fasting we promote the truth and that won't given room for us to manipulate things. I am of the view that the election is okay during the fasting period because this will further assist us to prayerfully elect our next leaders.
"We should not make any issue out of the fixing of the date of the next year general elections. Elections have been fixed during the fasting of Christians in this country, and no one raised an alarm on that.
"Why should we now make so much noise when it falls on Muslim fasting period. I believe having the pols during fasting will even give us the opportunity to do things with the fear of God and not manipulate the elections. So, we shouldn't use this to engage in religious discrimination."
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The cleric made the foregoing remarks while speaking with journalists at Jesus City Camp, Lekki/Epe Express way Lagos after the conclusion of his church's annual fasting and prayer session which had lasted for 41 days.
He prayed against those whose intentions is to destroy Nigeria and also prayed for those whose intentions are good for the country.
Asked why he prayed in such way, the Cleric said, "We pray for those who want this country to have growth and progress and we also prayed against those who don't want progress for the country. We have discovered in our prayers that there are some people whose hearts have been hardened by the Devil and they have vowed not to allow Nigeria have peace and progress.
"The Bible says that anyone who hates peace, would also have peace far away from him or her. Many of these bad people are not ready to repent and are facing the wrath of God already. So, in view of this, it is time we children of God pray against the activities of these bad people in government.
"This is why we prayed for those who mean well for this nation and also prayed against those who don't. We have gotten to a point in this country when we have to separate the weeds from tars so that the weeds wouldn't destroy the tars."
Prophet Alo also disclosed that the annual fasting and prayers has been a covenant between him and God before he began to record success in his ministry as a cleric.
He recalled the doubt expressed by some people when God revealed to him in a dream that he would be a global evangelist.
He said, "This fasting and prayer programme is a convenient that God gave me from the begining of my life. It is this prayer that God used to raise me up in every nation that l go. I was in this fasting years ago on Erio mountain in Ekiti State, when I was handed the world map and was asked to indicate every nation l like to be in a dream. When I told other people about the dream, they laughed and mocked me saying I didn't have anyone abroad and it would be difficult for me to be able to travel to such countries.
"But today, you will realize that God is involved in this ministry. If you carefully studied our situation and activities of this ministry, you would realize that God has fulfilled the dream of that year. By the time it would be March this year, we would have been at Finland to celebrate eight years of taking the Christ Apostolic Church to that country."
Prophet Alo, who responded to the assertion that prayers for Nigeria's progress might not have received God's attention as the nation keep having challenges, said: "l cannot say our prayers haven't made any difference in this country.
"What I have discerned about is in Nigeria is that if a leader has been doing well but appears to do one bad thing. We think iire of the bad thing more than appreciating him for the food deeds he has been doing. I do not know most of the leaders in Nigeria but I usually make conscious effort to notice the good things some of them do and which we witness abroad.
"For instance, if most of our government could complete most of their infrastructural projects such as good roads that are still under construction now, our tommorow may still be brighter. Let us take a look at the coastal road, l have taken my time to follow its development and I found out that the same projects have made significant impact in developed countries where they have turned them into tourism sites.
"There is a place called Takum in Mexico it is a tourism site. If the coastal roads succeeds in all the cities they have planned it for, it would bring great development and growth to our nation. And it is already creating jobs for our people in such places as llesha and Badagry. I am not campaigning for them but all l am saying is that these projects need to be completed.
"Another thing we want to say is that the construction of these projects are rather taking too much time here in Nigeria compared to how they are completed on time in other developed countries. Perhaps , this is so because we do not have enough resources to complete these projects.
"However, my advice is that these projects should not be left incomplete by successive government. They should not be abandoned at all."
Speaking with newsmen at Jesus City Camp, Lekki/Epe Express way Lagos on how God has been using Prophet Alo, monarch of Ikun Temidire-Ekiti community in Ijero Local Government, Oba Olunlade Fabusuyi said, "Prophet Sam Olu Alo is a very young dynamic servant of God.
"He calls me his father but at the same time he is taking care of me as a father. What I have been hearing about his ministry from people has encouraged me to join Prophet Alo 's church. The Ewi ofu Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, our royal father, the Ewi once said he was surprised that though Sam Olu Alo is so young, he is doing wonderful things because God has empowered him to do so."
Several attendees of the fasting and prayer session who had ailments claimed that they were healed by divine touch during the programme.
One of them who said he was healed of cancer, said, "God of Prophet Sam Olu Alo healed me of cancer during this year's fasting and prayer session. It is a miracle. My own people had rejected me but Prophet Alo accepted me and ensured his God healed me. Praise the Lord."
