I Refused To Arrest Bishop Oyedepo’s Assistant, David Abioye Before Election — Sule

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule on Tuesday said that he opted against arresting the first vice president of the Living Faith Church Worldwide and senior pastor of the Abuja church, Living Faith Church, Goshen City, Bishop David Abioye in the build-up to the 2023 elections.

It would be recalled that Abioye who is in charge of the Abuja church, during one of the Sunday services before the 2023 election, urged members to vote for their faith.

Abioye had said, “If anybody tells you now that there is no religion in politics, they are deceiving you. Don’t hide it, vote for your faith. Till tomorrow, I will vote for my faith. I won’t vote for someone who will slaughter me.”

Speaking at the just-concluded 2023 Peace And Development Submit for Young University Students in Abuja, Sule said he was advised to arrest the pastor but he said no.

He said, “Indeed, for those of you who remember, we have most of the major religious organisations in Nasarawa State, like the Goshen City at Kilometre 36, which is presided by the respected Bishop David Abioye, who once released a video just before the elections asking: why can’t a Christian be a governor in Nasarawa State?

“He then urged Christians to vote only for Christian candidates.

“Some people came and advised me, let us check whether that church has paid their taxes, otherwise close the church.

“They said let us send security to arrest him (Abioye) for making those kinds of statements, but I said no.”

Meanwhile, the Governorship Election Tribunal Petition Tribunal chaired by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi on October 2, declared David Ombugadu of the People Democratic Party (PDP) the rightful winner of the March 18 elections in Nasarawa, nullifying Sule’s victory at the polls.