Dr Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye, Founder of The New Seraph Evangelical Ministries Worldwide and Iya Aladura General, has advised church leaders to keep politics out of their religious duties and avoid openly backing political parties or candidates.
She made the call at the eighth Night of Divine Experience in Ogun State on Friday, saying the church should concentrate on its spiritual responsibilities and remain open to people across political divides.
Yomi-Sholoye stressed that religious leaders should maintain neutrality, especially during elections, when politicians often seek the support of religious institutions and their followers.
She said, “Religious leaders must preserve the spiritual integrity of the church by remaining non-partisan. The pulpit is a holy place established to proclaim biblical truths, advocate for justice, and offer spiritual guidance to all people, regardless of their political affiliations.
“It must never be reduced to a platform for political endorsements, partisan campaigns, or party propaganda. Our calling as spiritual leaders is to speak truth to power and shepherd our communities with fairness and impartiality.”
The cleric also spoke against vote-buying, urging Osun voters not to allow money or other inducements to determine their choice at the polls.
She advised voters to examine the backgrounds, records and leadership abilities of the governorship candidates before voting.
“Before casting your ballot, thoroughly examine every candidate’s past administrative performance, public leadership history, and proposed plans for Osun State,” she said.
She added, “Every eligible voter should look for competence and past administrative records of all candidates, as each one of them has held different political offices.”
Yomi-Sholoye urged the electorate to give their support to candidates capable of providing effective governance and bringing meaningful development to the state.
