Fresh crisis hits Assemblies of God Church

Tension is brewing at the Edo State district of the Assemblies of
God Church, as some factional leaders of the church were barred
from holding a district meeting at the state branch headquarters in
Benin on Saturday by persons suspected to be thugs.
It was learnt that the entrance to the church, located at Upper
Lawani, was placed under lock and key, while the suspected thugs
prevented the church leaders, led by the District Superintendent,
Reverend Joel Okoegbele, from entering the church.
Sources also learnt that the crisis might not be
unconnected with a war of supremacy over the national leadership of the denomination between the sitting General Superintendent, Rev. Paul Emeka, and his deputy, Dr. Chidi Okoroafor.
It was also learnt that the Edo church headquarters was locked by the District Treasurer of the church, Rev. ThankGod Ekias, who was said to be in the camp of Dr. Chidi Okoroafor.
Some church members hinted that the meeting was to discuss the
scheduled visit of Okoroafor to the state to unseat the district leaders opposing his leadership.
However, the factional district leaders were said to have met later at
another branch of the church at Ozeigbe Street, where they adopted
resolutions barring the Assistant-General Superintendent from
visiting the district.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Okoegbele announced that four
pastors in the Edo District had been suspended for promoting
factions in the church and for hiring thugs.
He listed those suspended to include Rev. Albert Okaka, Rev.
Chijena I. O., Rev. Godwin Chime and the district treasurer, Ekias.
The district superintendent explained that the leaders at the meeting
recognised the leadership of Rev. Paul Emeka who left the church
headquarters, following the advice by the police.
He said, “Having known the plans of Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor to come to this district, we have agreed that Prof. Paul Emeka is the legal General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria.
“We, in this state, are in alliance with the court ruling granted on
11th of December, confirming Prof. Emeka as the authentic head of
the church.”
However, Ekias could not be reached for comments, as of the time
of filing the report.
It will be recalled that Emeka had in November last year been
removed as the GS of the church and replaced with Okoroafor.
But the decision was upturned by Justice A. O. Onovo’s High Court
ruling in Enugu on December 11, 2014, which dismissed it as a
“blatant abuse and breach of the right of the applicant (Emeka) to
unhindered access to court, which is guaranteed by the
constitution.”

source - punchng