His Grace, The Most Rev’d Ogbonnaya Christian John, PhD, has emerged the Primate-elect of the First African Church Mission at its just concluded 135th annual general conference.

John will take over from Primate S. Matilukuro, who will successfully end his primatical tenure and disengage from the ministry of TFIACM on September 30th 2026.

In a statement by the Conference communique members, John was elected the new primate by the church College of Bishops. It further said that Elder Arch. Ayorinde Ajala was elected unopposed as the Deputy Lay President by the Conference in Session.

“The Conference received with joy and appreciation to Almighty God that the Primate Palace was completed and dedicated to the glory of God on August 4, 2026. And for the first time in the history of our mission, the Primate will officially take residence at the Primate Palace.

“To our dear country, Nigeria, the church through the annual conference pledge continued to pray for our leaders to pilot the affairs of our country with the fear of God while urging every parent to devote adequate time for the upbringing of their children in order to have a better country tomorrow.

“The Conference in Session tasked the incoming primate and General Council to ensure that the model school should not just be a vision but a reality in not too distant future. The Conference in Session charged the mission to strive and take the church to her rightful position in the community of churches in Nigeria and beyond as we cannot go below the height we have reached in the last ten years. Conference in Session also congratulated Ven Joel Yokti as the Bishop elect of Juntan proposed Diocese.”