By Erewunmi Peace

Bayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, has reportedly filed a petition with the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, of allegedly demanding N150 million in spiritual and material items to support his 2027 Oyo State governorship ambition.

According to reports, Adelabu’s petition, submitted in October 2025, claimed that Primate Ayodele repeatedly asked for expensive items — including 24 APC flags and 1,000 musical instruments such as saxophones and trumpets — as part of spiritual intercessions for his political ambitions. The estimated total cost of these items was reported to be between ₦50 million and ₦130 million.

In the petition, the minister described the demands as extortive and coercive, asserting that he refused to comply because his political ambition is driven by public service, not spiritual manipulation. Text messages cited in the petition were reportedly shared with news outlets as evidence of the alleged demands.

Primate Ayodele, however, denied the allegations, stating that he did not extort or make financial demands on Adelabu. He claimed that any discussion of costs was only in response to questions about the price of instruments, which he described as spiritually recommended for Adelabu’s personal benefit. The cleric also emphasized that he had independently spoken about the minister’s ambition, not as part of any extortive act.

The story has sparked national attention, highlighting the complex intersection of politics and religion in Nigeria, especially as Adelabu has declared his intention to contest for the Oyo State governorship in 2027.

Observers note that the petition and the cleric’s denial will likely fuel ongoing public debate, and the matter may attract further investigation by security agencies to ascertain the veracity of the claims.