“I heard that VDM…” — Rev. Dachomo fires back after VDM shares video of him praying for Tinubu’s success
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has criticised attempts to link him to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The cleric’s reaction followed allegations by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), who accused him of praying for Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the next presidential election.
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Dachomo, however, insisted that his prayers during his recent visit to Israel were aimed at promoting peace, securing justice for persecuted communities and preventing electoral malpractice.
Watch the video here…
“I'm sure a lot of you were surprised when you saw this video of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo saying that they should pray for Tinubu. It was surprising because this man has criticized the Tinubu’s government because of the insecurity in Plateau state. I'm not surprised because I know… pic.twitter.com/hR73wdSqZu
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) October 12, 2026
What VDM said about Dachomo
VDM sparked the controversy after sharing a video on social media on Monday, questioning the cleric’s alleged shift from criticising Tinubu’s administration to praying for its success.
The activist recalled Dachomo’s campaign to draw international attention to the reported killing of Christians in Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
According to VDM, the cleric was expected to raise the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other world leaders during his visit to Israel.
However, VDM alleged that Dachomo instead used the trip to pray for Tinubu and the APC government ahead of the 2027 election.
The activist further claimed that the cleric had been compromised, expressing the belief that the presidency might have reached out to him and facilitated his trip to Israel.
VDM also questioned the alleged change in Dachomo’s position, citing his previous criticisms of the government over insecurity and concerns surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
‘Which success? The success of rigging elections?’
Responding to the allegations, Dachomo denied praying for Tinubu, Shettima and the APC to emerge victorious in the 2027 election.
In a statement shared on his social media accounts, the cleric accused those associating his name with political campaigns of misrepresenting his intentions.
He explained that his prayers in Israel focused on national peace, divine intervention against evil and the protection of communities affected by violence.
Dachomo also maintained that he had prayed against electoral rigging rather than supporting any political party’s ambition to win the next election.
Reacting to VDM’s claim that he prayed for the president’s success, the cleric questioned the meaning of the alleged prayer.
“My dear brethren, I greet you all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
“I heard that VDM shared a video saying I prayed for President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket to succeed in the 2027 election.
“You are just saying, ‘Rev. Dachomo has prayed for success.’ Which success? The success of rigging elections?
“While Muslim-Muslim ticket supporters are thinking of rigging elections, the only thing I am praying for is that they should fail in their evil deeds. Let them fail in their evil thinking. Let the evil ones in Nigeria fail woefully in whatever they are doing,” he said.
Cleric warns Tinubu’s campaign organisation
Dachomo also warned against using his name to promote Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that such actions amounted to an injustice against the president.
He stressed that he did not support electoral manipulation and prayed for divine intervention against anyone planning to rig the 2027 election.
“To the campaign organisation of Tinubu, anybody who is using my name wrongly for campaigns is doing a great injustice to Tinubu. You evil men are saying I use my name to say I pray for Tinubu.
“I pray that any evil spirit that will lure this government into rigging elections will catch fire. Any satanic power that will raise thugs to rig elections, let it catch fire so that justice will prevail.
“Any spirit or person that is going to rig these elections, let the wrath of God destroy their evil plans,” the cleric added.
Dachomo calls for justice and peaceful coexistence
The COCIN regional chairman concluded by emphasising the need for justice and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
He said his desire was for Nigerians to live in love, respect one another and protect communities regardless of religious differences.
“We need justice. We need the fear of God in both Muslims and Christians so that we can live lives of love and protect one another. That is what my heart desires,” he wrote.
Watch the video here…
“I warn those campaigning for President Tinubu not to use my name wrongly. Anyone doing so is w!ck£d and ev!l. Even those claiming that I prayed for Tinubu’s success, which success?”
— Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo reacts to a viral video of him praying during his recent visit to Israel. pic.twitter.com/co23AxiQtG
— NewsClick Nigeria Media (@NewsClickng) October 13, 2026