Nigeria woke up to one of those stories that sits at the uncomfortable crossroads of religion, money and politics: A Federal Minister has formally petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing a prominent prophet of seeking as much as ₦150 million — plus ritual paraphernalia including 1,000 trumpets and 24 APC flags — in exchange for “spiritual intercession” to secure electoral victory for a 2027 governorship bid. The minister is Bayo (Adebayo) Adelabu, the accused cleric is Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, and the transaction — if true — would be a brazen example of what critics call the commercialization of spiritual authority for partisan ends.
The crux of the complaint
According to an exclusive report that first published the petition, Minister Adelabu has accused Primate Ayodele of demanding N150 million in “spiritual support” related to Adelabu’s declared intention to contest the Oyo State governorship in 2027. The petition — dated October 13, 2025, and signed by Adelabu’s media aide — reportedly includes screenshots of text-message exchanges and an itemized list of materials the cleric asked the minister to provide before prayers could be conducted. Among the list were 24 APC-branded flags and 1,000 trumpets/saxophones — items that sources say were costed by the cleric at up to N130 million depending on the grade and condition.
Text messages seen by journalists show that Ayodele gave deadlines for delivery — initially April 1, later extended to April 4 — and included detailed instructions about where and when the items should be brought for the rituals. TheCable, SaharaReporters and other outlets published the exchanges and the petition in their reporting.
Primate Ayodele’s response
Primate Ayodele has denied extortion allegations. In public statements, the cleric suggested the minister was “desperate” for political success and framed his own interactions as spiritual advice, not a financial demand. Media platforms covering the story published Ayodele’s denial and his insistence that he never asked Adelabu for money. The denial has done little to quell the furor — instead it has launched a high-profile public debate about boundaries between spiritual leaders and politicians.
Why this matters: religion, money and the ballot
Nigeria’s political landscape has for decades featured conspicuous overlaps between religious figures and politicians. Prophets and pastors commonly endorse, pray for or publicly bless candidates; sometimes those interactions are symbolic, other times they involve financial exchanges or gifts. What makes the Adelabu–Ayodele allegation newsworthy is the scale and specificity: a seven-figure sum (in naira), a list of branded party paraphernalia, and what reads like a contractual timeline tied to “divine instructions.” Even if the motives were benign, the optics are explosive — and they may have legal consequences if the DSS deems any element criminal (extortion, blackmail or undue influence).
The political backdrop: Adelabu’s gubernatorial ambition
Adelabu, who currently serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Power, announced his interest in contesting the Oyo State governorship in 2027 months prior to these allegations — a move that immediately heightened interest in any spiritual or political endorsements tied to his bid. For any aspirant, public endorsement from a widely followed cleric could yield votes, media attention and perceived legitimacy among devout constituencies. That reality helps explain why both parties would engage with religious figures; it also explains why allegations of payments for spiritual intercession are politically combustible.
Legal and ethical angles
Adelabu’s decision to take the matter to the DSS converts a sensational personal dispute into an official inquiry. The involvement of a state security agency raises two immediate legal questions: (1) Were the cleric’s requests an act of criminal extortion or blackmail? (2) If there was an agreement that involved money or valuable goods exchanged for political advantage, does that implicate electoral finance rules or corruption statutes?
From an ethical standpoint, the episode spotlights the problematic nature of quid-pro-quo spiritual transactions in a democracy: when religious authority is monetized or used to broker political outcomes, citizens’ faith and civic choices both risk distortion.
Public reaction and media coverage
Social media in Nigeria — predictably — exploded after the story broke, with a mixture of ridicule, anger and skepticism. Many users mocked the image of 1,000 trumpets as theatrical, while others expressed alarm at the notion that a senior federal official might need to purchase “divine favor.” Traditional news outlets and digital-native platforms ran the petition documents, text-message screenshots and reaction pieces, amplifying the story’s reach. Several reputable outlets published corroborating reports and published commentaries on the implications for governance and the politicization of religion.
Possible outcomes
At minimum, the DSS could use the complaint to mediate or investigate allegations of criminality. If the agency finds evidence that Ayodele solicited money or valuable items for political favors, he could face charges ranging from extortion to conspiracy. Conversely, if the DSS finds no wrongdoing, the minister’s reputation could suffer — particularly if public sentiment turns against him over the optics of attempting to buy spiritual favour. Either way, the episode is likely to harden public discussion about the role of clergy in politics and may prompt calls for clearer ethical standards.
Bigger picture: what this says about politics in Nigeria
Beyond personalities, the episode is a revealing case study in how modern Nigerian politics often combines ritual, symbolism and transactional power plays. Whether one believes in the efficacy of prayers and spiritual intercession or not, the monetization of religious influence — especially when tied to partisan identifiers (APC flags, for instance) — blurs the line between spiritual counsel and political campaigning. That blurring can erode trust: in politicians who appear willing to commodify spiritual endorsement, and in religious leaders who appear to monetize faith for influence.
What to watch next
1. DSS action: Will the Department of State Services open a substantive probe or classify this as a civil dispute?
2. Legal filings: Either party may take civil or criminal recourse depending on DSS findings.
3. Political fallout: How will Adelabu’s gubernatorial campaign be affected? Will APC spokespeople distance themselves or defend their minister?
4. Clerical accountability: Will religious bodies comment or adopt guidelines to manage clergy-candidate interactions?
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