…Says PFN Members Have Been Urged To Vote Their Conscience
By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, on Friday asked Nigerians to disregard the rumor making the rounds in several quarters and the social media platforms alleging that the PFN has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Reacting to the news making the rounds, the PFN National Publicity Secretary, Bishop Dr. Gospel Emmah Isong, in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Calabar at the on-going 17th Biennial Conference in Bayelsa State, said, “I want you to know that nothing like that has happened in the history of the PFN.
“We have not endorse any political party or any presidential candidate, rather what we have on-going is the 17th Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, themed: “More Than Conquerors,” currently on-going in Bayelsa State.”
The PFN publicist maintained that the conference is an avenue for all Christians, especially those in power who are very free to join in and fellowship with the fathers of faith to pray for themselves and the nation.
Isong stressed that no endorsement has been done at the conference.
Isong stated that the rumor is nothing but fake news, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to shun such news that may had trend on social media platforms and in some quarters, probably aime at rubbishing and dragging the good image of PFN to disrepute.
He added, “We coincidentally had the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who is also the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and Obi same day, who both came to fellowship with us.
“And at no point did the National President, His Eminence, Bishop Dr. Wale Oke, nor other fathers of faith and members of PFN NEC endorse any presidential candidate or political party. That has not happen. I believe whatever you have read regarding that issue is junk and fake news.”
PFN called on the 60 million Christians in Nigeria to look into the profile of these candidates and vote according to their conscience, stressing that it would not and cannot force any Christian to vote a particular candidate, but rather they have asked them to vote their conscience.
The PFN publicity scribe urged all followers and supporters of political parties to stop media frenzy and halt the use of social media to vote for their candidates, adding, “Political campaigns are beyond social media.”
Isong averred that the PFN is not partisan, insisting that it is aware that its members belong to different political parties, and therefore we will not make the mistake of endorsing any party or candidate at this point.
He enthused, “Today, we are expecting the Executive Secretary, Christians Pilgrims Board, who serves with the Federal Government, in the person of Dr.Yakubu Pam, coming to fellowship and pray with us for the good of this nation.
“We have not yet and never will we endorse any political candidate for the 2023 elections. We asked our members to pray, wait for the lord and vote according to their conscience.”
