Rev. Paul Emeka

The leadership tussle rocking the Assemblies of God Church is far from being resolved as a faction of the church invaded the church’s headquarters in Enugu with all manners of weapons, causing some destruction.

Sources said the motive of the invasion may be connected with a move to take over the headquarters from Paul Emeka faction, who a faction claimed has been stripped of the leadership of the church since November.

The latest incident happened Wednesday and the church has called on government to intervene in its leadership crisis

Late october, Rev. Paul Emeka, claimed to have secured a new four year term to lead the church. He was first elected to lead the church in 2011.

But a week after, another faction of the church at a meeting on 1 November expelled him from the church for alleged breach of the constitution and peace of the church. The faction also sacked and ex-communicated Raphael Itotoh, Nicholas Anyanwu, Philips Efejunti, Roland Best, Kayode Shinkale, Bulus Goni, Baba Fada and others.

They were sacked from the church during the 35th quadrennial General Meeting of the Church held at Evangel Camp along Enugu- Abakaliki Expressway, Okpoto, Ebonyi State.

The faction elected its own leader, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, the former Assistant General Superintendent as the new General Superintendent. Others elected were Rev. Pastor Ejikeme Ejim Assistant General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Godwin Amawoh (General Secretary), Rev. Dr. Vincent Alaje as General Treasurer and Rev. Scott Ennis as Chairman of NMFF and 14 other leaders.

The two factions have laid claim to leadership of the church since then, with Emeka making claim of threat to his life, occasionally.

The internal crisis led to the attempted take-over of the church’s headquarters on Wednesday.

Armed policemen, civil defence men now keep watch over the headquarters of the church.