Human rights lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other ecclesiastical bodies to urgently address what he described as the growing menace of toxic political prophecies in the country.
Ejiofor made the call in a statement issued on Monday titled, “Monday Musings: When the Altar Becomes a Political War Room — The Dangerous Rise of Prophetic Manipulation in Nigeria’s Electoral Space.”
He warned that continued silence over the abuse of the prophetic office could amount to “institutional complicity,”
Ejiofor stressed that the sacred role of prophecy was never intended for political manipulation, sensationalism, or public entertainment.
He recalled how the Anglican Communion taught them that prophecy was a solemn spiritual responsibility rooted in humility, holiness, restraint, and reverence for God.
According to him, genuine prophecy should edify, admonish, reconcile, and guide people toward righteousness and repentance — not fuel political hysteria.
Quoting 1 Corinthians 14:40 and Jeremiah 23:21, Ejiofor said Scripture clearly warns against disorderly and self-appointed prophets.
He lamented that Nigeria’s current religious climate has drifted dangerously from those principles, with some self-acclaimed prophets now turning the pulpit into a “theatrical political commentary platform.”
Without mentioning any individual by name, Ejiofor referenced a prominent religious figure in the Niger Delta whom he accused of abandoning evangelism for incessant political predictions.
“At one moment, the nation is told what would happen if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sleeps in Aso Rock; the next moment, another prophecy emerges concerning Peter Obi’s chances in 2027 or the fate of Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he stated.
He questioned when the prophetic ministry became “an hourly political newsroom” and when the altar of God was transformed into a “polling unit analysis centre.”
Biblical condemnation
Citing Micah 3:11 and Ezekiel 13, Ejiofor argued that the Bible condemns prophets who speak from personal imagination or for material gain rather than divine instruction.
The senior lawyer maintained that the Church was commissioned to promote peace, salvation, truth, and moral guidance — not to inflame political tension through reckless declarations.
He further warned that politically charged prophecies could have dangerous psychological effects on emotionally vulnerable followers, especially in a country already grappling with ethnic tensions, economic hardship, and political distrust.
According to him, such pronouncements could manipulate public perception, provoke hostility, and threaten national peace if left unchecked.
“This is not an attack on Christianity or the prophetic ministry,” he clarified.
“What must be resisted is the growing culture of theatrical, politically motivated, media-driven prophecies which neither edify the Church nor promote national stability.”
Ejiofor also cautioned that desperate political actors could weaponise religious sentiments ahead of the 2027 elections if urgent steps are not taken to restore accountability within the prophetic ministry.
The human rights lawyer stressed that the pulpit must never become a battlefield for political manipulation or endless political speculation.
He called for prayers, moral revival, responsible leadership, national healing, and unity instead of “combustible prophecies capable of setting the nation ablaze.”
“May wisdom prevail over fanaticism, and may truth once again return to the altar,” he said.
