A group of youths within the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), identified as Concerned RCCG Youths, has rejected what it described as a “fraudulent” political event allegedly being organised under the name and identity of the church to promote President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The youths made their position known in a statement signed by Sydney Usman Godwin and Sunday Ogunbanwo.
They alleged that posters, flyers and invitations bearing the name, logo and identity of the RCCG were being used to promote what they described as a partisan political gathering involving members and supporters of the APC and the Tinubu administration.
The controversy centres on the RCCG Youth Political Summit 2026, organised by RCCG Continent 2 YAYA through its Directorate of Politics and Governance.
The event, tagged “Game Changers,” has the theme “Youth as Catalysts for National Transformation” and is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 9:00am at the Mariam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in Abuja.
Those listed as guests include Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke; former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; economist and former Minister of Education, Obi Ezekwesili; former Senator Dino Melaye; former House of Representatives member Ben Lar; Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Mariam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Adedayo Benjamin Laniyi; House of Representatives member Bamidele Salam; and House of Representatives member Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi.
The hosts are listed as Pastor E. A. Odeyemi, Continental Overseer of Continent 2, and Pastor Sola Olukoya, Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Youth Affairs.
In their statement, the youths said they were surprised and disappointed by what they described as efforts by some church members to drag RCCG into partisan politics.
“We have observed with deep surprise and utter disappointment, the clandestine moves by some members of our beloved Church to drag the RCCG into partisan politics by covertly endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC),” they said.
They questioned the role of the Directorate of Politics and Governance in the organisation of the programme, arguing that the directorate should promote Christian values and responsible participation in politics and governance rather than serve the interests of a political party.
According to the youths, the directorate is expected to champion “compassion, justice, integrity and righteousness” in politics and governance, encourage Godly participation in public service and awaken the church to its civic responsibilities.
“Its mandate is to encourage Godly participation, promote Christlike values in public service, and awaken the Church to its civic responsibilities, not to become a marketing tool for a political party,” they said.
The group also criticised the Tinubu administration, citing the removal of fuel subsidy, taxation, insecurity and the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
“President Bola Tinubu remains a candidate and a President widely rejected by the Nigerian people. This rejection is not without reason,” the statement said.
The youths attributed their position to what they described as “anti-people policies,” a “suffocating taxation regime,” increased hardship following the removal of fuel subsidy without adequate cushioning measures, and worsening insecurity across the country.
They also questioned the selection of some of the invited speakers, alleging that their participation suggested that the event was designed to advance a political agenda.
“A cursory look at the list of speakers invited shows the fraud. There is none of these speakers invited who is running for an elective position at the Federal level or in the FCT affiliated with the Church,” they alleged.
“They are not seeking office within FCT. They are political jobbers and loyalists drafted to sell a political agenda.”
The group subsequently rejected what it described as an attempt to use the RCCG’s name and identity to promote Tinubu and the APC.
“Therefore, the packaged fraudulent event to market a bad product like Bola Tinubu using the RCCG is hereby rejected and discarded in its entirety,” the youths said.
The youths maintained that RCCG is a church and should remain politically neutral, stressing that the church accommodates Nigerians regardless of their political affiliations.
“The RCCG is a Church, not a political party. It is a house of God for all Nigerians irrespective of party affiliation,” they said.
“The Church has always maintained political neutrality and we will not allow anyone to sacrifice that neutrality on the altar of partisan politics.”
While acknowledging the constitutional right of individual citizens to freedom of association and political participation, the group argued that such rights should not involve presenting a partisan political gathering as a church programme.
“We will never condone, accept, allow or encourage a partisan gathering of the APC to be dressed in the sacred regalia of the RCCG as a subtle and deceptive way of securing endorsement for a failed administration,” they said.
The youths therefore demanded that the organisers disinvite what they described as political actors, spokespersons and APC loyalists from the programme.
They further demanded that if the organisers proceeded with the meeting as a political gathering, the RCCG’s name, logo, emblem and other forms of church identity should be removed from all materials associated with the event.
The group also called on the RCCG leadership at the FCT and national levels to intervene and caution the organisers.
“Let it be known that the RCCG belongs to God and to all His people, not to the APC,” the statement added.
“We remain committed to a Nigeria that works for all.”