*PDP governorship candidate denies being a Muslim

The Bishop of Anglican Communion, Diocese of Kwara, the Rt. Rev Olusegun Adeyemi, has warned politicians signing pacts with the devil because of elections.

He urged Nigerians to obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to exercise their franchise in the elections.

Rev. Adeyemi advised politicians to persevere while embarking on their political activities.

He spoke at a thanksgiving service organised for the Kwara State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Simeon Ajibola at Saint Barnabas Church of the Kwara Diocese of Anglican Communion in Ilorin.

Ajibola denied campaign posters in which he appears with a turban on his head. He said he was never responsible for the posters, explaining that it might have been produced to discredit him.

Ajibola explained that though he had a Muslim background, he would not compromise his faith as a Christian.

He said: "There can never be any deceit on the issue of faith. The issue of religion, which is faith-based, is between an individual and God Almighty. And one can chose to practicse it the way he so desires. I, Senator Simeon Ajibola, is a Christian and there is no doubt about that. I may have a Muslim background.

By virtue of my father being the chief imam of my village as at the time I was born, he named me Sule and I cannot reject the name my father gave me from birth. "And thereafter, I have embraced Christianity, I have been practising Christianity and the only medium between me and the Almighty is Jesus Christ, our saviour. I believe in him, I have embraced him even beyond living on this side.

"The most important thing is life after death. And I believe I can get to that eternal life through Jesus Christ. I have not embraced any other faith. Regarding what happened through computer manipulation, lawani (Turban) was imposed on me.

"It was really unnecessary and diversionary. Honestly, it is out to discredit me as a person. But at the same time too, honestly I cannot deny those practising Islamic faith. It is a religion that I believe also of salvation. It is a religion that I told you my background took off from."