Fact Check: Did Bishop Oyedepo Say People that Vote APC Decide the Number of Mad People in Nigeria?
Claim: A viral screenshot circulating on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, and several blogs claims that the Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, has said that potential APC voters in the forthcoming elections will determine the number of mad people in the country.
Background: The screenshot is presented as a statement allegedly made by the cleric in relation to the 2027 general elections and has generated widespread reactions online, with some users criticizing religious leaders’ involvement in politics while others expressed support for the purported comment.
According to the claim, Bishop Oyedopo reportedly said, “the number of people that will vote APC will decide the number of mad people we have.”
The claim surfaced amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections and continued public debates over economic hardship, insecurity, and governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The screenshot was widely shared across social media platforms and republished by blogs, including NaijaMixed.com.ng, often accompanied by humorous captions and memes suggesting the statement was recent.
Bishop David Oyedepo is the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel, and presides over the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State. He is one of Nigeria’s most influential Christian leaders and has, on several occasions, commented on governance, elections, and national development issues.
Verification: To verify the authenticity of the claim, PRNigeria‘s fact-check team conducted keyword searches, reviewed media reports, examined social media posts, and searched for the original source of the alleged statement.
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Findings showed that the quote circulated widely in August 2022 ahead of the 2023 election. The statement, which read “the number of people that will vote APC will determine the number of mad people we have in Nigeria,” was attributed to Oyedepo during the heated political campaigns preceding the elections, prompting a response from a Kaduna based cleric, Archbishop Fearan.
Further checks revealed that the current viral version merely replaces references to the 2023 elections with 2027, giving the impression that it is a recent statement.
PRNigeria found no credible evidence that Bishop Oyedepo recently made the statement in relation to the 2027 elections. A review of recent sermons, media reports, and public comments attributed to the cleric showed that while he has continued to comment on governance, voter responsibility, and vote-buying, there is no verified record of him repeating the specific quote in a recent sermon, interview, or official church communication.
Additionally, no reputable mainstream media organisation reported a fresh 2026 statement containing the exact wording currently circulating online.
The investigation also established that the viral image originated from social media reposts and blog publications rather than a verifiable primary source such as a sermon video, church broadcast, X handle or official statement from Living Faith Church Worldwide
Conclusion: PRNigeria‘s investigation found no credible evidence that Bishop David Oyedepo recently made the viral statement regarding the 2027 elections. While a similar quote was widely attributed to him during the 2023 election period, the current screenshot presents the statement as a fresh comment without verifiable proof.
The claim therefore relies on recycled content and lacks confirmation from primary sources such as a recent sermon, official church publication, or authenticated video recording.
Verdict: MISLEADING – The viral screenshot recycles an older political statement and falsely presents it as a recent comment by Bishop David Oyedepo on the 2027 elections.
By PRNigeria
