Marital Crises Rock Nigerian Pulpits: Four Prominent Pastors Whose Marriages Ended in Controversy
In a country where pastors are often regarded as moral compasses and spiritual authorities, the breakdown of their marriages continues to attract national attention. Despite preaching about love, unity, and forgiveness, several top Nigerian clerics have seen their homes collapse under the weight of infidelity, irreconcilable differences, and personal convictions. Here is a roundup of four popular Nigerian pastors whose once-celebrated marriages ended in divorce: 1. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Christ Embassy Founder’s High-Profile DivorceFounder of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife Anita were once seen as the epitome of a Christian power couple. Married in 1991 with two daughters, their separation became public in 2014 when Anita stopped attending church events and was later removed from the church’s official platforms.The divorce was finalized in the UK in 2016 on grounds of adultery and unreasonable behaviour. While Pastor Chris later attributed the split to a “vision mismatch,” rumors of long-distance strain and leadership disagreements persisted. Neither has remarried. 2. Rev. Chris Okotie – Two Failed Marriages and a Vow to Remain SingleFounder of the Household of God Church and former pop singer, Rev. Chris Okotie, has had two failed marriages. His first, with Tyna, ended in 2001. In 2008, he married Stephanie Henshaw, a mother of three, but the union collapsed in 2012.He told his congregation during a Sunday service that the breakup was due to “irreconcilable differences.” Later, in an interview with BBC Pidgin, he declared that “God never wanted me to marry”, likening himself to Apostle Paul. He has since vowed never to remarry. 3. Pastor Ituah Ighodalo – From RCCG Exit to Personal TragedyPastor Ituah Ighodalo, founder of Trinity House Church, was formerly a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). However, his decision to remarry after a divorce cost him his position in RCCG, prompting him to establish his own ministry.His marriage to businesswoman and former beauty queen Ibidunni Ajayi in 2007 was closely followed by public scrutiny. After Ibidunni’s untimely death in 2020, Ighodalo has remained single. In an interview, he noted that his daughter urged him not to remarry. 4. Prophet Joshua Iginla – Infidelity Scandal Shakes Champions Royal AssemblyIn 2019, Prophet Joshua Iginla, General Overseer of Champions Royal Assembly, shocked his congregation with a public confession of mutual infidelity between him and his now ex-wife, Yemisi.He claimed to have forgiven her for having a child outside their marriage but said she did not extend the same forgiveness when he fathered a child with another woman. He later married Stella Zimasa, a South African. Yemisi, however, denied the allegations, insisting all three of her children were fathered by Iginla. Analysis: The Human Side of the AnointedThese marital breakdowns, involving some of Nigeria’s most influential pastors, highlight the fact that spiritual leaders are not immune to the pressures and complexities of married life. Issues such as infidelity, long-distance separation, doctrinal conflict, and personal convictions have all played roles in these failed unions.While their stories may be controversial, they also serve as cautionary tales and reminders that marriage—no matter how anointed the participants—requires mutual commitment, understanding, and grace.
