Church in Turmoil: ECWA Faces Internal Crisis Over Unresolved Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Abuja Pastor

 

Mounting frustrations have engulfed the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), particularly its Wuse II congregation in Abuja, as a storm of controversy swirls around the embattled Senior Pastor, Rev. Nashon Azaki. Allegations of sexual harassment, first formally raised in January 2025, have led to widespread unrest and a growing rebellion within the church’s leadership structure.

The turbulence reached a new level this past week as five out of eleven elders on the church’s board stepped down, citing unresolved grievances and what they describe as a deliberate effort by higher authorities to stall justice. Their resignations reflect a deepening divide between the ECWA Executive and local members who feel betrayed by the leadership’s inaction.

Rev. Azaki has been the subject of serious allegations since early this year, when a petition was submitted to ECWA Headquarters, demanding his removal. This call for action was accompanied by a formal letter written on behalf of the concerned congregation by Dr. George Ogunyomi, a legal practitioner. His letter, dated February 3, 2025, emphasized that Rev. Azaki’s actions were in violation of ECWA’s ethical code, and lambasted the leadership for what he described as its reluctance to uphold the church’s moral standards.

Although the ECWA Executive had, by mid-April, assured Wuse II representatives that the Investigative Committee’s recommendations would be implemented, including the transfer of Rev. Azaki and a reconstitution of the Elders’ Board, five weeks have now passed without any visible progress.

Tensions are further compounded by reports that high-ranking individuals within the church, including a former ECWA president, have exerted influence to keep Rev. Azaki in place, despite the committee’s firm conclusion that his continued presence is detrimental to the church’s unity and reputation. This interference has left many congregants disillusioned, raising questions about the church’s governance and commitment to its stated values.

The ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Ayuba Asheshe, has responded to the controversy by stating that due process is being followed, and that the recommendations were forwarded to the Garki District Church Council (DCC) for action. However, members claim that this bureaucratic maneuver is simply a delay tactic designed to shield influential figures from accountability.

Some insiders allege that the resistance to Rev. Azaki’s removal is motivated by personal gains. There are growing concerns over undisclosed financial benefits received by certain church figures, including medical travel support and other perks, which they say may have compromised objectivity in handling the matter.

Amid the stagnation, calls for a full financial audit have intensified. Congregants argue that transparency is critical to restoring trust and exposing the extent of the alleged conflict of interest embedded in ECWA’s leadership.

The longer the Executive delays action, the more pronounced the rift becomes between the pulpit and the pews. For many worshippers, the leadership’s silence speaks volumes, and the situation is being seen not merely as a personnel issue, but a test of ECWA’s spiritual integrity.

Dissatisfaction is no longer confined to private whispers or church meetings. Members have taken their concerns public, expressing their disappointment and fear that ECWA’s foundational principles are being eroded by politics, favoritism, and a failure of leadership at the highest level.

Efforts to contain the crisis appear increasingly ineffective. As more congregants speak out, they emphasize that the issue is not just about one pastor, but about whether ECWA as an institution can still hold itself accountable and stay true to the faith it preaches.

The coming weeks may be decisive. Without transparent and decisive leadership, the crisis at ECWA Wuse II could reverberate across the denomination, leaving a lasting dent in its moral and spiritual authority. For now, the eyes of a restless congregation remain fixed on an Executive Committee whose next move may determine not only the fate of Rev. Azaki, but the future credibility of ECWA itself.