Winners' Chapel releases official statement in defense of Bishop Oyedepo

The church also said Oyedepo only prayed for the office of the president and not as a candidate of the forthcoming elections

Bishop David Oyedepo (Winners Chapel)

In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding President Jonathan's visit and David Oyedepo's alleged "gates of hell" statement, Living Faith Ministries worldwide (Winners' Chapel) has released an official statement addressing the issue.

According to the released statement, the allegations against the church's founder is false and are lies being spread by mischief makers.

The church also said Oyedepo only prayed for the office of the president and not as a candidate of the forthcoming elections.

The church had earlier this week, released a 6-minute video recording on YouTube showing that Oyedepo prayed for the President but never said anything about opening the gates of hell on anyone who opposes Jonathan in the forthcoming elections.

Read the church's statement below:

"Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the President and founder of the Living Faith Church worldwide, also Known as Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, which has gone viral.

He was reported to have made the statement last Sunday when the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came to worship at Faith Tabernacle, which is the headquarters of the ministry.

The falsehood that is being spread around by mischief makers is that the Bishop, while praying for the President, said,

“I will open the gates of hell to anyone who oppose you.” A little later, some others who in an attempt to “defend” the Bishop, came up with another quote purportedly said by Dr. Oyedepo, which is: “I will open the gates of hell to those who oppose the peace of this nation.”

Well, let’s set the records straight: The Press and Publicity Unit of the church, publishers of Faith Tabernacle News, was at the 3rd service and recorded (on tape), the President’s 6-minute speech, the congregational prayer for him and the Bishop’s blessing on the President.

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who is also the presidential candidate of the ruling party – the PDP, came to the church as the President of this country, not as a candidate in the forthcoming elections. And Bishop Oyedepo prayed for him, as instructed in the Bible book of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, as the President of Nigeria not as a PDP standard-bearer ".