David Oyedepo, the presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, has directed the congregation to fast and pray for three days ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The directive, which goes into effect on Monday, was announced during the church’s Sunday service at the headquarters and across all of its branches, including Abuja.
Oyedepo said he was prompted by God to urgently call for intercessory prayers ahead of the polls, saying there was a need to “secure the mercy of God and turn His wrath away from our nation.”
Oyedepo maintained that Nigerians can seek God’s intervention for a credible and crisis-free government by praying and fasting.
He went on to say that it was possible to elect the right kind of leadership that would bring religious and ethnic harmony to the country and its people.
This came with a note of urgency. “How many want to see the security of lives and property restored in Nigeria?
How many want to see a nation where parents can send their children and wards to school without the fear of kidnapping, abduction or evil things?
How many want to see the right kind of leaders emerge at all levels in the forthcoming general elections?
How many want to see a crisis-free election?
I am directed to declare a 3-day prayer and fasting across the nation,” he said, describing it as a “call for intercessory prayers towards the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria.
The announcement comes less than three weeks before the 2023 election.
Bishop Oyedepo has been a vocal critic of the ruling All Progressive Congress government.
He recently told the congregation at Shiloh 2022 that, due to the damage done to the country, Nigeria requires a “deliverer” rather than a leader.