PFN Debunks Reports Linking Adeboye To National Prayer Programme

The leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has dismissed reports linking the recent nationwide prayer programme to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) or its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, describing such claims as false, misleading, and baseless.

The PFN said the nationwide prayer gathering and related activities were conceived, approved, coordinated, and executed solely by the Fellowship, without any external influence.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the National Secretary of PFN, Bishop David Bakare, the Fellowship said it was “unfair, irrational, and deeply unfortunate” to attribute the programme to Pastor Adeboye or RCCG.

“It is unfair, irrational, and deeply unfortunate for anyone to attempt to attribute the programme to Pastor E.A. Adeboye or the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The RCCG never called for any protest. The programme was entirely a PFN initiative,” Bakare said.

He explained that the National Executive Council of PFN met on May 19, 2026, to deliberate on the country’s socio-economic and security challenges, after which a decision was taken to organise a three-day national fasting and prayer programme.

According to him, the directive was extended to Pentecostal Christians across Nigeria, culminating in state-level gatherings coordinated by PFN leadership.

“The programme was entirely a PFN affair. All directives, instructions, and operational decisions originated from PFN leadership without any interference whatsoever from Pastor E.A. Adeboye or the RCCG,” he said.

Bakare added that participating churches, including RCCG, only complied with PFN directives as members of the broader pentecostal body.

He also clarified that the final day of the exercise coincided with Pentecost Sunday, a global Christian observance marking the descent of the Holy Spirit.

“Pentecost is celebrated worldwide by Christians across denominations and nations. Therefore, the gatherings held were not peculiar to RCCG or churches in Nigeria alone,” he said.

The PFN further disclosed that an earlier proposal for public processions and placards was suspended due to security concerns.

“The decision to step down that aspect of the programme was taken to prevent infiltration by criminal elements and to ensure that a genuine spiritual exercise was not hijacked or turned into a security challenge,” Bakare said.

The Fellowship said the programme was successful and widely embraced, adding that it helped mobilise prayers for the nation amid growing socio-economic and security concerns.

It also condemned what it described as increasing attacks and misinformation against respected Christian leaders, warning against the spread of false narratives.

PFN urged the public, media practitioners, and social media users to verify information before publishing or sharing content capable of causing division or reputational damage.

Reaffirming its commitment to national development, PFN said it would continue to speak on issues affecting Nigerians under the leadership of its President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke.

The Fellowship also called on Nigerians to reject misinformation and work together for peace, unity, and national progress.