The National Prayer Support Group for Good Governance (NPSGGG), Oyo State Chapter, on Thursday, August 20, 2026, convened stakeholders, clerics, and APC faithful at Alice Hall, Opposite UCH Second Gate, Ibadan, for an Interdenominational Prayer Summit themed “Order Our Affairs”.
The summit, organized to seek divine intervention for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Vice President Kashim Shettima GCON, Senator Sharafadeen Alli BSA, Hon. Adesoji Michael Adedeji, and all APC Federal and State Legislative hopefuls for 2027, doubled as a strategic mobilization platform ahead of the next general elections.
Delivering the Welcome Address, the Director-General of NPSGGG, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Olanrewaju Olatunji Adekunle Atilade, described the gathering as “a defining moment in our collective journey” to align governance with divine guidance and grassroots political structure.
He noted that NPSGGG has been officially certified and recognized by the APC National Secretariat as a support group, with a constitutional mandate to engage in continuous intercession before, during, and after elections.
“Our philosophy is simple yet profound: we have chosen the path of prayer because prayer sustains relevance beyond elections,” Alhaji Atilade stated. “We are not a support group whose assignment ends after ballots are counted. Our responsibility continues before elections, during elections, and after elections, covering our leaders, our party, and our nation in continuous intercession.”
The DG, who also addressed journalists during the event, outlined the group’s national mandate and organizational strength. According to him, NPSGGG maintains a minimum of 20 state executives in every state, translating to 700 state officials nationwide, plus at least a coordinator and secretary in each of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.
“In terms of strength, when we talk about only the state executives alone, we are talking of 700 people. And we have at least a coordinator and a secretary in every local government. That is a lot. On our major platform, we have over 1,000 people, and we have the same in every state platform,” he said.
Projecting the group’s electoral capacity, Alhaji Atilade asserted that NPSGGG alone can garner one million votes, and with a one-to-one mobilization strategy, the figure could double.
“By the grace of God, even my members alone without even adding anybody, we will be able to pull One Million votes. If One Million people now go out to mobilize one person each, that means we are getting about two million votes for our president and for all the APC National and the State Legislative Council,” he declared.
He reaffirmed the group’s unflinching support for the APC’s choices, specifically naming Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s candidate for Oyo Central and Hon. Adesoji Michael Adedeji as his running mate. He dismissed doubts about the candidacy, citing the presence of the APC National Chairman and National Secretary in Ibadan for the unveiling of Senator Alli’s campaign office.
“If anybody is still doubting or waiting for the National Working Committee to come and raise anybody’s hand, I think that person is a joker,” the DG said. “The party has given us a reputable, reliable, qualified candidate, which is Senator Abiodun, Sarafadeen Alli. Let us work for them, and we get the good result.”
On challenges, Alhaji Atilade lamented that the group has operated solely on self-sponsorship since inception. He revealed that the Abuja edition cost about N15 million, Lagos N6 Million, and the Oyo program was budgeted at N4 million. He appealed to party leaders and stakeholders to provide financial support to sustain the quarterly statewide prayer and mobilization programs scheduled for Jigawa, Katsina, and Rivers in November.
The spiritual highlight of the summit featured separate but united messages from Christian and Muslim clerics, both calling for prayers, justice, and godly leadership.
In his sermon and interview, Pastor Alagbe Vincent anchored his message on 1 Timothy 2:1, urging Nigerians to pray for authority leaders.
“The moment we remove God from Governance, that shows that we said God should remove his hands and the devil should come in,” he said. “It is our responsibility to pray for them so that we can live a peaceful life. Because the moment we don’t pray, we all know what the devil can do. He comes to steal and to kill, and to destroy.”
Pastor Vincent offered specific prayers for President Tinubu and all leaders, asking God to “give them inspiration to do His will, which will make people enjoy life, because whatever decision they take affects the whole populace.” He counseled both the political class and citizens to “fear God” and allow divine direction in governance.
“To the ruling class, in whatever they are doing, they should fear God and do whatever God is telling them. And to the populace, we should respect our leaders. They are human beings prone to mistakes, but when we pray for them, God will hear and direct them aright,” he added.
Also speaking, Alhaji Oniountu, the Muslim Scholar, grounded his address in the Holy Qur’an, Surah An-Nisa, Verse 59:
“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you…”
He emphasized that leadership is a divine trust and there is no one in authority except by Allah’s permission.
“As people of faith, Allah has commanded us to pray for those in authority. The moment we remove Allah from governance, we invite chaos, because we have removed the mercy of Allah and opened the door for Shaytan,” Alhaji Onijuntu stated.
He offered special prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Vice President Kashim Shettima GCON, and all APC candidates for 2027, asking Allah to grant them _hikmah_ – wisdom, _adl_ – justice, _rahma_ – compassion, and _taqwa_ – the fear of Allah.
“My counsel to the political class is simple: Fear Allah in whatever you do. Allah says in Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 27: ‘O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know.’ Leadership is a trust. And on the Day of Judgment, every leader will be asked how he used the trust given to him,” he warned.
To the citizens, he said: “Prayer is not weakness. Prayer is strategy. It is the weapon of the believer. Let us raise our hands for Nigeria. Let us pray that Allah _yuslih ahwalana_ – that He orders our affairs, that He removes hardship, that He brings unity, and that He establishes good governance in our land.”
Also speaking, the Oyo State Coordinator of NPSGGG, Mrs Mariam Abiola, welcomed guests and emphasized that the summit was more than a gathering.
“Today is a solemn opportunity for us to seek the face of God concerning our nation, our leaders, and the future of Nigeria,” he said. “We particularly commit the leadership of our nation into the hands of Almighty God, praying for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, as well as all elected leaders. May God grant them wisdom to lead with justice, courage, compassion, and the fear of God.”
He called on Oyo residents to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards and participate actively in the 2027 elections, stressing that prayer must be complemented with civic action.
The DG further used the platform to critique the opposition, particularly referencing the recent Osun State election and governance issues in Oyo. He cited abandoned projects, security lapses, and unaccounted funds as evidence that “the ruling party has failed us in many areas.”
“We realised they failed and we cannot allow them to continue. So I believe it is going to be the people, the masses against the incumbent governor,” he stated.
The event featured joint interfaith prayers by Muslim and Christian clerics for Nigeria, Oyo State, and all APC candidates for 2027. It concluded with the inauguration of the Oyo State Executive Committee of NPSGGG.
In his closing remarks, Alhaji Atilade charged members to return to their wards and LGAs to mobilize for the APC.
“My message to Oyo and to all Nigerians is this: Do not despair. This season of uncertainty will pass. Nations that have gone through worse have come out stronger because their people prayed, united, and worked. Let us pray for wisdom for our leaders. Let us pray for strength for our citizens. And let us pray for Nigeria. Because with God and with good governance, the best of Nigeria is still ahead of us.”
