By Ismail Azeez
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has dismissed allegations linking a recent nationwide prayer programme to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and its General Overseer, Enoch Adejare Adeboye, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The PFN, in a statement signed on Friday, by its National Secretary, David Bakare, clarified that the three-day fasting and prayer exercise was conceived, approved, coordinated, and executed solely by the Fellowship.
Bakare said it was unfair to attribute the programme to Pastor Adeboye or RCCG, stressing that the church neither initiated nor called for any protest.
According to him, the decision to organise the prayer programme was reached during a meeting of the PFN National Executive Council on May 19, 2026, following concerns over Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic and security situation.
He further stated that “it is irrational, and deeply unfortunate for anyone to attempt to attribute the programme to Pastor E.A. Adeboye or the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The RCCG never called for any protest. The programme was entirely a PFN initiative”.
“The programme was entirely a PFN affair,” Bishop Bakare stated. “All directives, instructions, and operational decisions originated from PFN leadership without any interference whatsoever from Pastor E.A. Adeboye or the RCCG. Every church that participated, including RCCG, simply complied with the directive of the Fellowship as responsible members of the Pentecostal community.
“Pentecost is celebrated worldwide by Christians across denominations and nations. Therefore, the gatherings held were not peculiar to RCCG or churches in Nigeria alone. They formed part of a global Christian observance.
“The decision to step down that aspect of the programme was taken to prevent any possibility of infiltration by criminal elements or hoodlums and to ensure that a genuine spiritual exercise was not hijacked or transformed into a security challenge. PFN acted prudently and responsibly in the interest of public peace and safety.”
“We are grateful to God that the programme was successful and widely embraced. If there are individuals who believe alternative approaches should have been adopted, they are free to organize lawful initiatives of their own rather than spreading unfounded allegations and misinformation borne out of ignorance or prejudice.
“The Fellowship finds it completely unacceptable for anyone, whether within or outside the Christian community, to falsely accuse, malign, insult, or curse our revered fathers in the faith. Public discourse must be guided by truth, responsibility, and respect. Deliberate attempts to tarnish reputations through falsehoods are harmful to national unity and social cohesion.
“We celebrate RCCG for participating fully, just as it has consistently done whenever called upon by recognized Christian bodies. As far back as 2020, under directives issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Adeboye and RCCG demonstrated similar commitment to national spiritual engagements. Their participation in this recent programme was neither exceptional nor independent; it was simply part of their longstanding commitment to the collective body of Christ.
“The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria remains committed to praying for the nation, advocating for justice, encouraging good governance, and calling on government at all levels to do more to protect lives, secure communities, and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. We shall not relent in this sacred responsibility, he said.