Bishop David Oyedepo used his Sunday pulpit at Canaan Land in Ota, Ogun State, to deliver a message that transcended theology. The founder of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, urged his congregation to acquire their Permanent Voter Cards before the 2027 general elections, framing civic participation not as a political act but as a responsibility that believers cannot afford to ignore.
The message was delivered during a service where he preached a sermon titled “Breaking the Curses of Life.” In it, he made space to speak directly about Nigeria’s political future and the role his congregation should play in shaping it.
“We have a civic responsibility as responsible citizens of our various nations,” he told the congregation. “So endeavour to secure your Voter’s Card. You should know, on your own personal conviction, we are to cast our vote.” 
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What He Said
Oyedepo was specific about the stakes. He argued that political leadership determines the direction of a nation and that Christians must combine prayer with tangible civic engagement, not one or the other. Waiting until election season to begin the process, he warned, is the mistake people make when they intend to participate but end up excluded.
“We are not passersby in our nation; we are bona fide citizens of the nation, and we have a right to participate in who governs us,” he said. “We have a say in it. We have a right to determine who rules us, and this church, with the millions we are, has a say in it, so be part of it.”
The phrase “with the millions we are” isn’t incidental. Living Faith Church is one of the largest congregations in Africa, with branches across Nigeria and dozens of countries beyond. When Oyedepo speaks about the collective power of his membership, he refers to a demographic that, if mobilised toward civic participation, would form a significant bloc in any national election.
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Why This Is Significant Now
The 2027 general elections are less than a year away, but the registration and collection of PVCs through the Independent National Electoral Commission usually require early action. Citizens who miss registration windows or fail to collect their cards in time face no recourse at the voting booth, which is why Oyedepo’s call to start now rather than later carries practical significance beyond motivation.
This isn’t the first time Nigerian religious leaders have weighed in on elections and civic participation. What sets the Bishop’s statement apart is the direct framing; he did not merely encourage prayer for good governance, common from Nigerian pulpits. He explicitly connected physical civic action, like collecting a voter card, to the responsibilities of a believer and citizen.
He concluded by telling worshippers to see their PVCs not as political tools but as instruments for positive civic participation and national development.
Whether or not his congregation takes that message to the INEC offices in the coming weeks, the statement alone indicates that one of Nigeria’s most influential religious figures wants 2027 to be different from past elections, at least for the millions sitting in his pews.
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