The Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, David Bob-Manuel, has urged Nigerians to shun vote buying and reject sentiment-based voting ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bob-Manuel warned that electing leaders based on sentiment or inducement would only produce poor leadership and hinder national development.
He also called on the church to remain neutral in partisan politics, stressing that religious institutions should focus on prayers for credible leadership rather than political alignment.
“The church is not supposed to get involved in partisan politics; we have members who belong to different political parties, so the church should be home to everyone,” he said.
“We should rather pray that God directs the people to choose the right person to lead at both state and national levels.”
The cleric spoke on Tuesday during a special visit to Cherubim and Seraphim churches in Ijebu Province.
He further cautioned Nigerians against selling their votes, describing the act as a compromise of conscience.
“When you allow people to buy your vote, you are selling your conscience, and at the end of the day, we may not get the results we desire,” he said.
Bob-Manuel emphasized that voters already know the candidates within their communities and should choose leaders based on competence rather than financial inducement.
He added that fear of God remains essential in addressing Nigeria’s governance challenges, urging citizens to seek divine guidance in leadership selection.
The cleric explained that his visit was part of routine engagements by the church leadership to assess and support branches of the ministry.
During the visit, he urged church members to focus more on evangelism and soul-winning rather than overemphasis on ordination, noting that the core mission of the church is salvation and spiritual growth.
He also encouraged the church to intensify revival efforts and remain committed to the original vision of its founder, Moses Orimolade Tunolase, stressing that Christ must remain the foundation of all activities.
Bob-Manuel concluded by calling for renewed commitment to kingdom work and greater dedication to expanding the church’s spiritual mission.
Margaret ABAH
