I refused to arrest Oyedepo’s assistant David Abioye before election — Sule

Nasarawa-governor Abdullahi Sule

Nasarawa State Governor Abdulahhi Sule has said that he opted against having 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 arrested in the build-up to the 2023 elections.

Abioye is in charge of the Abuja church, with Bishop David Oyedepo as overseer.

“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.” Abioye had said.

Speaking at the just-concluded 2023 Peace And Development Submit for Young University Students in Abuja, on Tuesday, Sule 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.

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“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.”

On October 2, the Governorship Election Tribunal Petition Tribunal chaired by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi declared David Ombugadu of the PDP the rightful winner of the March 18 elections, nullifying Sule’s victory at the polls.