PFN Crisis Deepens: Senior leaders oppose Bishop Wale Oke’s re-election

The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Archbishop Wale Oke, is facing resistance to his potential re-election, as some senior members within the organization have accused him of underperforming.

Oke, who was elected in 2023 for a two-year term, is due for re-election at the PFN’s biennial conference scheduled for February 2025.

However, critics claim his leadership has diminished the Fellowship’s dynamism, contrasting sharply with the vibrant tenures of past leaders such as Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

According to reports, the PFN, recognized as Nigeria’s largest Christian body, includes prominent churches such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), and Deeper Life Bible Church. It also plays a significant role as a key member of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Despite its stature, some leaders argue that the PFN has lost momentum under Oke’s stewardship. One senior leader told Vanguard, “This is a critical period for Nigeria, yet the PFN has remained largely silent on national issues under Oke’s leadership. There have been few press statements, media engagements, or impactful programs, leaving the Fellowship’s influence significantly weakened.”

The leadership challenges became evident when the Lagos PFN branch reportedly operated without clear direction for a year, which some attributed to a lack of oversight by the national leadership.

Tensions flared further when Mama Margaret Idahosa, Archbishop of the Church of God Mission, publicly criticized Oke for failing to fulfill a promise.

Speaking during the 70th birthday celebration of Bishop David Oyedepo, attended by notable figures like Pastor E.A. Adeboye and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Idahosa said, “Wale Oke, I have forgiven everything because he promised me and he did not come… but he is all under the lamb.”

Her remarks struck a chord with other PFN leaders, who expressed similar frustrations over Oke’s unfulfilled commitments and what they described as a failure to keep the Fellowship vibrant.

As dissatisfaction grows, there is increasing pressure within the PFN for a change in leadership. However, it remains unclear whether a consensus candidate has emerged to challenge Oke’s re-election.