The Apostolic Church Nigeria has elected new national leaders for the church, with Pastor Dr. Lawrence .O. Oladele from LAWNA Territory emerged as the new National President of the church.
The election which was held yesterday, Thursday, February 06 was conducted at the National Headquarters of the Church in Lagos.
According to the results of election as presented by the Chief Returning Officer, Pastor David Ajibade, Pastor Oladele emerged victorious with 388 votes, while Pastor Jude O. D Ekele came distant second having garnered 196 votes.
Pastor E. U. Johnson from Akwa-Ibom State Territory, was also elected as Vice-President with 297 votes, defeating his close contestant Pastor Prof N.E. George who polled 278 votes.
In the race for the position of National Secretary, Pastor Prof. Benjamin Fakae from the Maritime Territory emerged winner after polling 323 votes to defeat Pastor I.B. Zorzor, who garnered 155 votes.
Pastor Prof B.B. Fakae was a former Rector of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, before he later became the Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.
Pastor Dr. Isaac G. Awotanmi of LAWNA Territory was also victories having been elected as the new Deputy National Secretary, after securing 301 votes to triumph over Pastor Dr. Titus O. Akinbami, who polled 171 votes.
Pastor O.A. Nyong from Cross Rivers State Territory emerged victorious in the race for National Finance Secretary, garnering 304 votes to defeat Pastor W. U. Ikpi, who got 134 votes.
However, Pastor S.A. Ogu from LAWNA Territory was nominated as the National Deputy Finance Secretary.
The election result was announced by the incumbent President of the church, Pastor S.E. Igwe who is set for retirement.
It was gathered that the newly elected leaders would be officially inducted in August 2025.
Welcoming the election result, the President-elect of the church Pastor Oladele appreciated the incumbentt leadership of the church for laying exemplary leadership.
He said: “We want to appreciate our father, the National President whose his exemplary leadership we are all benefitting from. Our father the Vice-President/LAWNA Territorial Chairman, we appreciate you so much. All National officers and all the NEC members, we thank you and we appreciate you all. We want to tell our fathers that we shall humbly learn from them. We shall patiently submit ourselves for their Christ-like mind to be poured into us before we assumed office.
“May I say this to the fathers whom we contest together that there is no victor and there is vanquish. We have not won and you have not lost. We are the same, we need you, we need to cooperate together, the Church must move forward, and we are one. So, I thank you and I thank our fathers. God bless you all.”
The incumbent leadership of the church began operation on the 30th of July 2017.
