Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo, presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, said on Saturday that not even one billion dollars would persuade him to enter partisan politics, reaffirming his lifelong commitment to spiritual service over political ambition.
Speaking during the Shiloh 2025 annual convocation impartation service of his church, Oyedepo said politics lies outside the scope of his calling and urged congregants to remain focused on their divine missions. “Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it’s off my course,” the cleric said, stressing that spiritual purpose outweighs worldly gain.
The influential preacher, whose Living Faith Church — also known as Winners’ Chapel — boasts millions of members in Nigeria and beyond, reminded worshippers of his earlier warnings about societal challenges. “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?” he asked, linking spiritual resilience with the turbulent times.
Oyedepo also invoked a biblical perspective on the role of believers in confronting contemporary issues, citing Romans 8:19 to underscore a belief that the world awaits the “earnest manifestations of the children of God.” He encouraged followers to lead transformative change rooted in faith rather than political office.
The preacher’s stance comes amid ongoing debates in Nigeria about the intersection of religion and politics, with many religious figures historically offering moral commentary on national affairs — but stopping short of direct electoral engagement.
