Abia State Government has described as false, a publication on a Facebook page belonging to the Apostolic Christian Church Mission (ACCM) where it was claimed that the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has recognised a General Overseer for the Church.
The State government also denied the claims that the Governor approved the Church’s annual convention.
In a press statement by Keneth C. Wiper, the Special Assistant on religious matters to Governor Alex Otti, Saturday evening, the State government made it clear that Governor Otti had no role in selecting anyone as the General Overseer of ACCM.
“Let it be known to all and sundry that His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, has neither approved the lifting of the ban earlier placed on the 2024 annual convention nor endorsed anyone as General Overseer.
“It is important to state categorically that the Governor has no role in selecting leadership for the Church, or any church for that matter.
“Government wishes to state that its interest in the ACCM matter is only to ensure against the breakdown of law and order, sequel to the unhealthy leadership tussle going on in the church,” Wiper said.
OsunDailyNG recalls that ACCM has been having a leadership tussle in the past two years, with different factions laying claims to the General Overseer position.
This situation led to the closure of the Church’s headquarters at 34 Omuma road, Aba on December 31, 2022, by the former administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
The Church was later unsealed in March, 2023 by Ikpeazu, but the leadership crisis in the Church did end.
Also on Friday, the Abia State government suspended the annual convention of the church, warning parties involved in the matter against disobeying the directive.
