“I Didn’t Ask Adelabu For Money, He Was Desperate To Be Governor “—Primate Ayodele Defends Self Against Extortion Allegations by Power Minister
Primate Elijah Ayodele, the founder and leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has strongly refuted claims by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, that he attempted to extort over N150 million from him in exchange for spiritual assistance to secure the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.
In a detailed statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele described the allegations as baseless and misleading, insisting that no money was ever demanded or exchanged.tvcnews.tv
“I didn’t ask Bayo Adelabu to bring money for prayers,” Primate Ayodele stated.
“I told him to ask someone from his end to go to the market and find out how much the said trumpet cost, while someone follows them from my end too.
His personal assistant, himself, and the person he sent to me put me under so much pressure because he was desperate for governorship.”
The cleric explained that Adelabu initiated contact through emissaries due to his intense ambition to become governor.
According to Ayodele, the minister even expressed willingness to “give anything” to achieve his goal.
Primate Ayodele clarified that the recommendation of 1,000 trumpets (or saxophones) was purely symbolic—a spiritual act to seek God’s mercy and divine intervention—not a demand for personal gain or for his church.
“I told him that they won’t be willing to give him the governorship ticket, but if he wants it so bad, he should seek the mercy of God by buying the musical instruments for God, not even for my church,” he said.
When Adelabu inquired about the cost, Ayodele provided an estimate and suggested independent verification at the market.
He emphasized that Adelabu ultimately refused, and the conversation ended there, with no further demands made.
Primate Ayodele also noted that his prophecies about Adelabu’s gubernatorial challenges predate any recent interactions and have remained consistent over the years, requiring only “the grace of God” for success—not financial transactions.
Regarding mentions of 24 APC flags in some reports, the cleric’s statement focused on the trumpets as the key recommendation, framing them as an act of faith rather than extortion.
Primate Ayodele maintained that his role was advisory, prompted by the minister’s desperation, and denied any blackmail or malicious intent.
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“For years, I have been talking about Bayo Adelabu’s ambition and have consistently maintained that it would take the grace of God for him to become governor,” he added.
The controversy arose after Adelabu petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) in October 2025, accusing the cleric of extortion and using false prophecies to pressure him.
As of now, Primate Ayodele has called for understanding, asserting that his guidance was meant to help the minister spiritually, not to enrich himself.
The incident has sparked debates about the role of spiritual leaders in Nigerian politics, with Primate Ayodele standing firm on his innocence and the symbolic nature of his advice.
No official response from the DSS has been issued regarding the ongoing matter.
