A viral photo showing Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2025 Anambra election being anointed by a group of bishops has sparked a flurry of reactions across social media.
The image, which was meant to portray divine endorsement, has instead reignited public skepticism about the growing commercialization of religion in Nigerian politics.
Let’s be honest no amount of oil poured on a politician’s head can substitute for the people’s will. Ukachukwu may have secured the blessings of a few clergymen, but that does not translate into grassroots support or electoral victory.
Nigeria has a long history of politicians seeking legitimacy through religious rituals kneeling before pastors, visiting shrines, or attending mass prayers ahead of elections. These gestures are often publicity stunts designed to project humility and divine favor. Unfortunately, the clergy, who should be moral guides, have become willing participants in this political theater.
In Ukachukwu’s case, it is difficult to ignore the perception that those “bishops” are more interested in his deep pockets than his political vision. The so-called anointing ceremony looks less like a spiritual act and more like a business transaction wrapped in religious symbolism.
Anambra politics has never been decided by prayers or prophecies it’s driven by credibility, structure, and connection with the people. Ukachukwu may have influence within the APC and among certain church circles, but on the ground, the dynamics are different.
The APC remains deeply unpopular in Anambra State, a region that has historically leaned toward parties like APGA and, more recently, Labour Party. Beyond that, Ukachukwu has yet to articulate a convincing agenda that resonates with ordinary voters who are more concerned with insecurity, youth unemployment, and infrastructure decay than with religious theatrics.
Many of the so-called religious leaders endorsing politicians these days are not doing so out of conviction but out of convenience. They bless whoever can afford to “sow a seed.” This has turned the church into an extension of political propaganda, eroding its moral authority. The bishops around Ukachukwu may chant prayers, but their true loyalty often lies with the highest bidder.
Anambra’s electorate is politically sophisticated and not easily swayed by spectacle. The people have seen this movie before politicians seeking blessings before elections and disappearing afterward. Unless Ukachukwu can present a clear, people-centered blueprint and demonstrate genuine connection with the grassroots, the “anointing” will amount to nothing more than a symbolic photo op.
Final Thoughts
In the end, elections are won through strategy, credibility, and the people’s trust not through the laying on of hands. The bishops’ prayers may sound holy, but their motivations are far from divine. Anambra voters know better, and in 2025, no amount of anointing oil will wash away political reality.
By: Godwin Offor
