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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The founder, Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he has never campaigned for any politician during any election in the country.
Oyedepo stated this while delivering a message, titled, Faith, at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State.
This come less than 24 hours after an online newspaper, Peoples Gazette, released an audio where Obi solicited the support of Oyedepo to help get votes from Christians in South West.
The former Anambra State governor also stated that the votes were needed because the 2023 presidential election was a religious war.
“Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in the South West and Kwara, the Christians in the South West and Kwara.This is a religious war. Like I keep saying: if this works, you people will never regret the support,” Obi said in the audio.
Reacting, Oyedepo said he never spoke to any group of people on behalf of any politician.
“Nobody had ever told me what to say in this world. No. I have never campaigned for anybody or speak on anybody’s behalf and I will not do that till I go to heaven.
“There is no (political) party in this country that didn’t come to me for prayers and for advice. I advised them, some, they didn’t take. Those who chose to take it, they see results; those who said no, they are going about it (laughs). If you still come again, I will still tell you, it doesn’t change,” he said.
The audio had attracted criticism for Obi, with some of his supporters saying it was doctored.
But in a series of tweets in the early hours of Sunday, Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson of Labour Party Presidential Campaign, confirmed the authenticity of the audio, but claimed it was taken out of context by critics.
Earlier, Director General of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Akin Osuntokun, said he jad nothing to say on the matter.
“I have nothing to say on this,” Osuntokun said.