The Episcopal Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has denied reports that some bishops were financially induced to elect the Bishop of Osun North East, Rt. Rev Humphrey Olumakaiye as the new Bishop of Lagos.
A statement on Tuesday by the church’s Episcopal Secretary, Rt. Rev David Onuoha, said Olumakaiye who was duly elected at the February 6 election is to take over from Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo who retires in August 2018.
“These publications are obviously not intended to do any good to the church. They are in the least intended to misinform and mislead the unsuspecting public. This particular election was held alongside four others at the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas, Ilorin in the Diocese of Kwara, Kwara State in accordance with the church’s laid down rules and regulations. The event was free and fair.
“A total of 161 bishops participated and pursuant to the provisions of Canon V of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria 1997 (as Amended), candidates were nominated after the advice from the diocese, which favoured translation, had been circulated and read. The procedure before every election in the House of Bishops is to appoint a team of returning officers to collate the results. This was strictly followed with the Rt. Rev Sosthenes Eze, bishop of Enugu North diocese, leading eight other bishops to perform this sacred duty,” Onuoha said.
While saying that only two candidates, Most Rev Michael Fape and Rt. Rev Humphrey Olumakaiye were duly nominated and seconded by highly respected members of the house without any objection against any of them, he said Most Rev Fape scored 51 votes Rt. Rev Olumakaiye scored 109 and one abstention.
He said, “By this result Rt. Rev’d Humphrey Olumakaiye, Bishop of Osun North East became duly elected for translation to the See of Lagos. The Primate as the President of the Episcopal Synod statutorily calls for nominations, and after the voting and counting of votes announces the results as submitted by the chief returning officer and results declared in the full glare of the general house.
“It is, therefore, uncharitable to attempt to smear the image of our beloved Primate, Most Rev Nicholas D Okoh, instead of thanking God for the numerous blessings he has graciously granted his church since the inception of this administration.”
