Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has filed a petition with the Department of State Services (DSS) accusing prominent cleric Primate Elijah Ayodele of attempting to extort N150 million from him in exchange for “spiritual intercession” to secure his 2027 Oyo State governorship bid., TheCable reports
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Adelabu, a two-time former candidate for the Oyo governorship and a key figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), confirmed his plans to contest the election again in 2027. The allegations, detailed in a petition dated October 13, 2025, and signed by his special adviser on strategic communications, Bolaji Tunji, paint a picture of what the minister describes as “extortive, deceitful, and inciting activities” by Ayodele, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Oke Afa, Lagos.
According to the petition, Ayodele has persistently approached Adelabu since his days as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), offering unsolicited “divine interventions” for electoral success. These overtures allegedly escalated to demands for substantial financial contributions and ritualistic items, totaling over N150 million.
Text messages exchanged between the two, reviewed by reporters, reveal Ayodele’s specific requests: 24 APC flags for prayers and 1,000 saxophones or trumpets. The cleric outlined costs for the instruments N50 million for the cheapest Nigerian fairly-used grade or N130 million for imported grade-one from China with an initial deadline of April 1, later extended to April 4.
“Sir, I don’t do this, but because of the love I have for you,” Ayodele wrote in one message, framing the demands as “instructions from God.” He urged Adelabu to perform rituals, including reciting “almu nasira” 200 times and conducting a vigil at 1 a.m., assuring that “the angel of God is coming to hear [your] request” and that failure to comply could lead to electoral defeat.
Adelabu reportedly responded that he could not afford the expensive items. In the petition, he emphasized that his political ambition is “driven by genuine service to the people and not by any spiritual manipulation or fetish practice.” He accused Ayodele of retaliating with “malicious and false prophecies” after the refusal, including public declarations in his church that Adelabu “had failed” and would never become Oyo governor.
Video clips from Ayodele’s church services, as seen by reporters, show the cleric describing his warnings as “messages from God” and daring the minister to arrest or sue him. Ayodele linked Adelabu’s supposed downfall to his association with the “Èmi Lòkan” (“It’s my turn”) slogan, a phrase popularized by President Bola Tinubu.
The petition calls on the DSS to investigate Ayodele for extortion, blackmail, and spreading “false and inciting information.” It demands that the cleric retract his prophecies, issue a formal apology, and face legal consequences under the Nigerian Constitution and Criminal Code to prevent “similar fraudulent religious practices.”
Adelabu has also lodged a separate petition with the Oyo State Commissioner of Police over the same “extortive and inciting activities.”
In a phone interview, Primate Ayodele vehemently denied the extortion claims, asserting that Adelabu approached him first through emissaries due to desperation for the governorship. “I didn’t blackmail him. We didn’t have any transaction. Again, no money was exchanged between us,” Ayodele stated.
He described the discussions as legitimate “terms” for his spiritual services, which Adelabu simply did not agree to. “I can sell my services for any amount. I can value it at N1 billion as much as I provide the value he wants. It’s nobody’s business,” Ayodele said. “Why did you come to me in the first place if you didn’t believe in me? What are you doing with someone you claim is dishing out fake prophecies?”
Ayodele portrayed himself as a benevolent figure, adding, “I’m big. I’m not poor. I take care of vulnerable people. I’m blessed in the Lord.”
This clash underscores broader concerns in Nigeria about the intersection of religion, politics, and finance, where self-proclaimed prophets often wield influence over aspiring leaders. As Adelabu’s power sector reforms push toward a “fully cost-reflective regime,” the minister now navigates this spiritual-political storm ahead of his 2027 ambitions. The DSS has yet to respond publicly to the petition.
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