Church leaders must stay non-partisan, avoid political endorsements — Cleric

The Founder of The New Seraph Evangelical Ministries Worldwide and Iya Aladura General, Dr Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye, has urged religious leaders across the country to remain non-partisan and preserve the spiritual integrity of the church.

She warned against turning the pulpit into a platform for political endorsements.

Speaking during the eighth edition of the Night of Divine Experience, held in Ogun State on Friday, Yomi-Sholoye said the church must remain committed to its spiritual mandate of proclaiming biblical truths, promoting justice and providing guidance to all people, irrespective of their political affiliations.

According to her, religious leaders have a responsibility to maintain fairness and impartiality, particularly during election periods when political interests often seek influence within faith communities.

She said, “Religious leaders must preserve the spiritual integrity of the church by remaining non-partisan. The pulpit is a holy place established to proclaim biblical truths, advocate for justice, and offer spiritual guidance to all people, regardless of their political affiliations.

“It must never be reduced to a platform for political endorsements, partisan campaigns, or party propaganda. Our calling as spiritual leaders is to speak truth to power and shepherd our communities with fairness and impartiality.”

The cleric also cautioned against vote-buying and other forms of voter inducement, urging citizens to make electoral decisions based on competence and proven leadership records rather than financial incentives.

She called on eligible voters in Osun State to critically assess the candidates in Saturday’s governorship election, noting that many of them had previously held public offices and should be evaluated based on their administrative performance and vision for the state.

“Before casting your ballot, thoroughly examine every candidate’s past administrative performance, public leadership history, and proposed plans for Osun State,” she said.

“Every eligible voter should look for competence and past administrative records of all candidates, as each one of them has held different political offices.”

Yomi-Sholoye added that voters should elect leaders with the capacity to govern effectively and deliver meaningful development to the people.