2027: Keep politics out of churches, Soludo tells politicians

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has warned politicians against using churches and other places of worship for political purposes, emphasizing that such spaces should remain neutral grounds for people of all political backgrounds. The governor made these remarks during the 30th anniversary celebration of the ministry of Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, also known as Odumeje, which took place at the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry in Onitsha.

In a video posted on his Anambra X account, Soludo stressed the importance of keeping politics separate from worship, stating that "the place of worship should be a holy place that people of all political persuasion should come and worship God in peace. It should not be a place for politics, but you will separate the politics."

Soludo urged politicians to recognize that there is a specific venue for political activities and that they should refrain from seeking to influence or campaign for votes within places of worship. He revealed that he had taken a firm stance against using churches for political campaigns, having made a deliberate decision not to go to any church to ask congregants to vote for him during his election.

The governor added, "We must never politicise the church. We must never politicise the place of worship. Politicians, keep off churches. Keep off places of worship. That's a deliberate message... My kind of consistency of character."

The remarks from Soludo come as politicians are actively campaigning for positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with seeking the approval and endorsement of religious leaders being a common practice among politicians in Nigeria.