‘You’re on your own’, PFN disowns Northern Bishops who met with Tinubu

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has attacked a group operating under the auspices of the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria, whose members last week met with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate.

The PFN claimed in a statement on Sunday that the group did not exist within the organisation because there was no regional division like Southern or Northern Pentecostal Bishops. Bishop David Bakare, the PFN’s deputy national secretary, issued the statement.

Following the criticism from many Nigerians regarding the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC for the 2023 presidential election, the group known as the “Pentecostal Bishops’ Forum of Northern Nigeria” met with Tinubu on Friday in his Abuja home.

The PFN said that their objection to the APC’s same-faith ticket has not changed in the statement that was signed by Bakare.

“The position of the PFN on same faith ticket still stands as it was in the beginning and we have not, for any reason, shifted our position on that matter.

“The Pentecostal Bishops’ Forum of Northern Nigeria is not known to the PFN. The forum does not have any affiliation or relationship with the PFN that is registered with the government of this nation.

“I looked at the photos and the names. I could recognise about two who are our members, but they speak for themselves. All Pentecostal leaders in Nigeria, from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Faith, Mountain of Fire, House on the Rock, among others, speak with one voice.

“Finally, I wish to let all Nigerians know that there is nothing in PFN that is regionally based like Southern or Northern Pentecostal Bishops.

“As a matter of fact, the PFN does not have any settings for Bishops. What we have is PFN, we do not separate Bishops of Pentecostal from other clergies of Pentecostal. We stand by our decision, we have not and will not bend to the dictate of any political group,” the statement reads in part.