The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has defended Adeboye’s neutrality, insisting that its General Overseer, Enoch Adeboye, has never campaigned for any government in power and has consistently maintained a non-partisan position despite repeated public claims linking him and the church to political authorities.
The church’s position followed renewed public discussions over the role of influential religious leaders in Nigeria’s political space and perceptions that some churches maintain close ties with governments in power.
Responding to such claims, RCCG stated that Pastor Adeboye’s ministry has always focused on spiritual leadership rather than partisan politics. Church officials maintained that the attendance of politicians at church programmes should not be interpreted as political endorsement.
According to the church, RCCG remains open to Nigerians from every political persuasion, with members and leaders drawn from different political parties and backgrounds. The church stressed that Adeboye’s neutrality has remained consistent throughout his decades of leadership and ministry.
Pastor Adeboye had previously addressed allegations that RCCG was aligned with a particular political party. Speaking during a church programme, he noted that governors, lawmakers and political figures from various parties worship within RCCG, including members of the APC, PDP, Labour Party and other political platforms.
He argued that because the church accommodates people from different political leanings, it would be inaccurate to label RCCG as belonging to any political party. According to him, the church altar is dedicated to worship, prayer and spiritual guidance rather than political campaigns. Church leaders cited those remarks as further evidence of Adeboye’s neutrality and his commitment to keeping partisan politics separate from church activities.
RCCG also addressed questions regarding Adeboye’s participation in previous public demonstrations. The cleric had explained that his involvement in such activities was not politically motivated but was undertaken in response to calls by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
According to Adeboye, when CAN directed Christians to participate in peaceful protests over issues affecting the Christian community, he joined as part of that collective effort. He stated that his participation should not be mistaken for support for any political party or candidate. The church argued that this distinction reinforces Adeboye’s neutrality and demonstrates that his actions have consistently been guided by religious and civic concerns rather than partisan interests.
RCCG maintained that its primary responsibility is to provide spiritual leadership, pray for national leaders and encourage peaceful coexistence among citizens.
Officials stated that political office holders who attend RCCG events are treated as worshippers and are not given church platforms for partisan campaigning. The church added that maintaining political neutrality has enabled RCCG to serve Nigerians across different political divides while preserving its spiritual mission. According to church leaders, Adeboye’s neutrality remains central to the ministry’s identity and public engagement.
Over the years, Adeboye has frequently spoken about governance, national development and the need for prayer for Nigeria’s leaders. However, RCCG said such comments should not be interpreted as endorsements of specific politicians or administrations. The church maintained that its General Overseer has consistently encouraged civic responsibility, national unity and prayer without aligning himself with any political party. Officials argued that this approach has helped preserve the credibility of the ministry among millions of worshippers with differing political views.
