Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has accused Lagos-based cleric Primate Elijah Ayodele of running an elaborate scheme of blackmail, “prophetic intimidation,” and a demand for over N150 million in cash and luxury spiritual items, all allegedly presented as conditions for securing his 2027 Oyo State. governorship ambition.
In a petition dated October 13, 2025, and addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adelabu said the founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church attempted to coerce him into funding a series of extravagant “spiritual exercises”.
The petition, signed by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, accuses the cleric of weaponising prophecies after the minister refused to yield to his alleged financial demands.
Sources told TheCable that Ayodele allegedly sent Adelabu a string of text messages requesting 24 APC flags, 1,000 trumpets or saxophones, and other ritual items, pricing them between N50 million and N130 million, depending on whether the instruments were sourced locally or imported from China.
The cleric reportedly gave two deadlines, April 1 and later April 4, for Adelabu to “provide the materials”.
“Sir, I don’t do this, but because of the love I have for you,” Ayodele allegedly wrote in one of the messages, insisting that God had chosen Adelabu to become the next Oyo governor.
When the minister refused, citing the outrageous cost, Ayodele allegedly switched tone, declaring from his pulpit that Adelabu would “fail woefully” in the 2027 election.
In video clips circulating online, the primate claimed to be delivering “a warning from God”, and dared Adelabu to arrest or sue him.
The petition states that Ayodele had also urged the minister to perform spiritual recitations, observe night vigils “by 1 a.m.”, and take his calls “for divine advice”.
Adelabu, however, told the DSS he distanced himself from such practices and believed his political journey must be anchored on service, not “spiritual manipulation”.
According to the minister, Ayodele’s actions amount to blackmail, extortion, and deliberate disruption of public peace.
“After I declined his demands, Primate Ayodele launched a barrage of false and inciting prophecies designed to damage my reputation,”
Adelabu wrote in the petition. “These retaliatory declarations are dangerous, malicious, and capable of undermining public confidence in the democratic process.”
He urged the DSS to investigate the cleric, compel him to retract the prophecies and issue a written apology, and prosecute him “to deter fraudulent religious practices that prey on political aspirants”.
A similar petition was also lodged before the Oyo State Commissioner of Police.
But in a telephone interview with TheCable, Primate Ayodele fired back.
He claimed it was Adelabu who first reached out and allegedly sent emissaries seeking spiritual support for the 2027 race.
Ayodele said, “I didn’t blackmail him. There was no transaction. No money exchanged hands. I can sell my spiritual services for any amount, even N1 billion. If he didn’t believe in me, why did he come? I’m not poor, I help people, and I am blessed.”
The controversy has since spiralled into a political-religious standoff, raising new questions about the influence of prophetic endorsements in Nigerian elections as the 2027 race draws closer.
