RCCG Defends Adeboye Against ‘False Narratives,’ Misrepresentation

Redeemed Christian Church of God has defended its General Overseer, Enoch Adeboye, against what it described as persistent falsehoods, deliberate misrepresentations and misleading commentaries about the cleric and the church.

In a statement issued on Tuesday through its official public relations handle on X, RCCG said it would no longer remain silent while inaccurate narratives continued to circulate.

“The lies have gone on long enough. It stops now!!! For far too long, Pastor E.A. Adeboye and The Redeemed Christian Church of God have been subjected to false narratives, deliberate misrepresentations, and misleading commentaries driven by personal interests and agenda-setting,” the church stated.

RCCG stressed that any information relating to Adeboye or the church should be verified only through its official communication channels.

The church accused some bloggers, commentators and media organisations of spreading misleading claims regarding Adeboye’s position on politics, governance and national issues without proper fact-checking.

“Pastor Adeboye and The RCCG will not be defined by falsehood, and neither will the Church remain silent while inaccurate narratives are repeatedly circulated as facts,” the statement added.

The church noted that designated representatives are responsible for communicating its official positions and urged the public to disregard unauthorised claims.

Responding to allegations that Adeboye campaigned for a political party or government, RCCG described the claims as false, insisting that the cleric has consistently maintained political neutrality.

“Pastor E.A. Adeboye has always encouraged members of The Redeemed Christian Church of God to get their PVCs and vote for anyone of their choice. He has always maintained a neutral stance on political parties, as members of the Church are members of various political parties,” the statement said.

The church also addressed claims that Adeboye called off a planned protest, explaining that he merely relayed a directive from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria concerning adjustments to a nationwide prayer programme.

According to RCCG, the PFN instructed member churches to hold the grand finale of the programme at centralised venues with rallies around those locations.

RCCG further rejected suggestions that Adeboye had remained silent on national issues such as insecurity, corruption and governance.

“Pastor E.A. Adeboye has, on several occasions, spoken about national issues such as insecurity, corruption, economic hardship, elections, governance, and the need for righteous leadership. However, he often chooses the language of moral guidance, prayer, and counsel rather than partisan political confrontation,” the statement added.

The church called on journalists, bloggers and media organisations to uphold professional standards by verifying information before publication.

“Responsible journalism requires verification. Going forward, any publication concerning Pastor E.A. Adeboye or The RCCG should be properly fact-checked through the Church’s official PR platform before being presented as fact.

“The public deserves the truth, not speculation. The Church deserves fairness, not distortion. Pastor Adeboye deserves accuracy, not manufactured narratives,” RCCG stated.

The statement comes amid renewed public discussions surrounding the role of influential religious leaders in Nigeria’s political and social affairs.

As one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal churches, RCCG and Adeboye have frequently been at the centre of debates relating to elections, governance and national development.