The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel), David Oyedepo, has stated that politics is not part of his divine calling, stressing that he would not venture into political office even if offered one billion dollars.

Oyedepo made the remark on Saturday while delivering a sermon titled “The Last Days Are Ordained the Groundbreaking Days of the Church of Christ” during the impartation service at the church’s annual Shiloh 2025 convention. The six-day programme, themed “Breaking New Grounds,” was held at Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

Speaking before thousands of worshippers, the cleric explained that although the Church has a mandate to “rule,” this should not be interpreted as a call to seek political power or elective positions. He noted that influence and leadership extend beyond politics into areas such as business, enterprise, and other sectors of human endeavour.

According to him, many church members are already exercising authority by leading successful organisations and employing large numbers of people, stressing that leadership is not confined to holding public office. He added that economic empowerment plays a major role in societal influence, saying God is prospering believers so they can take leadership positions in their respective professions.

Oyedepo emphasised that the concept of “ruling” does not equate to political leadership, insisting that his own influence does not stem from involvement in politics. He maintained that true authority can be seen in the ability to create jobs, lead institutions, and impact society positively.

The cleric acknowledged that while some individuals are genuinely called to politics and will succeed there, those who enter the arena without such a calling risk losing their dignity and public respect.

He also addressed criticisms and reports about him, saying he intentionally avoids responding to them in order to conserve his energy for progress and productive engagement.

“The energy required to reply to distractions is the same energy needed for advancement,” Oyedepo said, adding that he prefers to focus on growth and meaningful impact rather than public controversy.