Pentecostalism, Electoral Prophetism and National Security Challenges in Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT In advanced democracies, professional pollsters forecast electoral outcomes with varying degrees of accuracy. The culture of public opinion polls is not yet fully entrenched in Nigeria due to over-politicization of issues. However, there seems to be a thin line between the spiritual and the temporal, with some religious leaders taking it upon themselves to predict outcomes which are often not achieved. This occurs in a tense environment characterized by strong links between politics and primordial ties, hate-speech, and involuntary migration to regions of origin, as well as the politicization of security. Fierce contestations occur among sub-national groups, with many threatening violence if their “son” is not elected. It is in this context that this article investigates the nexus between Pentecostalism and national security challenges in Nigeria. It suggests that with the fragile atmosphere within which elections are conducted, the pattern of prophetic electoral predictions adds to the national security challenges in Nigeria. Consequently, regulatory measures are required to tame this evolving phenomenon.