Benin-City — A Benin based clergyman has expressed concern over reports that Christians were being asked to join secret societies and cults as precondition for being allowed to contest any elective position in future elections in the country.

Rev. Felix Omobude, the General Superintendent of the Gospel Light International Ministries, also known as New Covenant Gospel Church said, Christians should be encouraged to take active part in political activities. He warned that the entire Christian community in Nigeria would blacklist any political party that pressurizes Christians to "bow to the devil" through secret societies to get nomination.

Omobude, who urged all eligible Christian voters to ensure they were registered during the forthcoming regiistration exercise, advised anyone being compelled to join any secret society to immediately report such to his or her local church administrator or minister, adding that no political party has any moral or constitutional powers to disqualify anybody who refused to join secret societies.

He advised Christians electoral officers against mortgaging their faith and noble calling for temporary financial gains, saying to do so would be to willingly endorse ungodily persons for positions of leadership in the next democratic dispensation.

"There is no injunction in the Holy Bible that forbids Christians from participating in partisan politics," he said, adding that Christians should "make the difference in whatever position they find themselves."