‘PFN has not endorsed any party, candidate’

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), which held its 17th Biennial Conference with the theme: “More Than Conquerors,” in Bayelsa State, has debunked insinuations that the Christian body has endorsed a presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections.

The religious organisation also urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour making the rounds in several quarters, including the social media, that it has endorsed a political party.

The PFN National Publicity Secretary, Bishop Emmah Isong, in a telephone conversation with The Guardian, said: “We have not endorsed any political party or presidential candidate at the 17th Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria held in Bayelsa State.”

Isong maintained that the conference afforded all Christians, especially those in power, to join and fellowship with the fathers of faith, as well as to pray for themselves and the nation.

He said the endorsement story was “nothing but fake news.” He, therefore, called on Nigerians to shun such news aimed at tarnishing and dragging the good image of PFN to disrepute.

He added: “We, coincidentally, welcomed the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who is also the Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, same day. Both came to fellowship with us. And, at no point did the National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, or other fathers of faith and PFN National Executive Council (NEC) members, endorse any presidential candidate or political party. I believe whatever you have read regarding that issue is “junk and fake news.”

The scribe called on Christians to look at the candidates’ profile and vote, according to their conscience. While urging Nigerians to know that PFN is non-partisan, Isong stressed that“ PFN is aware that its members belong to different political parties, and therefore, will not make the mistake of endorsing any party or candidate at this point.

“We have not endorsed any political candidate for the 2023 elections. We are asking our members to pray, wait for the Lord and vote according to their conscience.”