Christians Have Zeal But No Knowledge Of Politics” – PFN’s Femi Emmanuel

 MATTERS ARISING 6060

“Christians Have Zeal But No Knowledge Of Politics” – PFN’s Femi Emmanuel 

By MATTERS ARISING News Desk

18th July, 2026 | Lagos

LAGOS— The National Director of Politics and Governance of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, has accused Nigerian Christians of focusing on religion instead of competence in politics, saying the church was “shouting from the back of the fence” during the 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket debate.

Pastor Emmanuel, who is also a former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, spoke on Thursday on TVC News’ _“Beyond The Headlines”_ programme hosted by Nifemi Oguntoye.

“Zeal Without Knowledge”

Responding to a question on whether Christians placed too much emphasis on the faith of candidates ahead of 2023, the cleric said many pastors lack understanding of how party politics works.

“I bear my people witness, these Israelites, that they have zeal but not according to knowledge,” he quoted Romans 10:2. 

“My people, fellow pastors, fellow General Overseers, they are very passionate about this country. They work hard. They believe in this country. They love this country. But when it comes to politics, they're completely ignorant.”

“Shouting From Outside The Fence”

Pastor Emmanuel argued that the church cannot produce credible candidates because Christians are absent from party structures at the grassroots.

“How would a Christian candidate emerge when Christians are not in party? This is a party politics. You can't get a credible candidate if you don't have credible delegates. You don't have delegates if you are not at the ward meeting, the grassroots,” he said.

“The first election I stood for was for a ward chairman. So, I know that nucleus, called the grassroots. That's where the power is. Church Christians are not there. You are not where laws are made. You are not where policies are being implemented, but you are shouting from the pulpit. That is shouting from the back of the fence.”

Cites 2019 “Christian-Pastor Ticket”

The PFN director faulted the argument that a same-faith ticket should be rejected, recalling that in 2019 Nigeria had a Christian in the vice-presidential seat.

“All this talk of Muslim, Christian. I asked them, In 2019, it was not just Christian Muslim ticket, it was Christian pastor ticket. Our brother and friend, Pastor Osinbajo, very cerebral, very brilliant, very outspoken. But, what did he bring to the body as a church? What can he bring?”

He added that the constitution limits the office of the vice president.  

“Our constitution says the vice president is as his spare tire... He's a king in waiting. So, that is not what you should argue for. But, that should be talking about competence, credibility.”

“God Used Cyrus”

When asked if the Bible supports the idea that only Christians should lead, Pastor Emmanuel dismissed it.

“No, no, no, and no. What you should be thinking about is a God-fearing person, a credible person, a father figure for the nation. What this nation need is a father figure,” he said. 

“Who loved the country? Who is not corrupt? Who will bring the best to the country? That's what Nigeria need. It don't necessarily to be a pastor or a cardinal or a bishop.”

“Sleeping Numbers”

He concluded that Christians constitute a large voting bloc but have refused to engage politically.

“Most of them don't even have a voter's card... Leave politics for politicians. Let's just face our gospel. Let's all wait so Jesus will soon come. Now, Jesus has not come. Politics punishment has come. Hunger has come. Bad governance has come.”

Pastor Emmanuel warned that politicians only respect groups that produce delegates and candidates at primaries, not those that limit themselves to prayer.

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