Most Rev. Ekpenyong Akpanika, newly elected prelate and moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, has confessed his emergence was by ungodly means.

The new prelate, however, vowed to stop ungodly practices in the church’s election of new leaders.

Mr Akpanika disclosed this on Monday in Calabar after his election during the week-long church’s 25th general assembly which began on August 11.

The prelate, elected during the 176th anniversary and 25th General Assembly Meeting of the church held in Calabar, garnered 451 votes to defeat Most Rev. Daniel Etim and Rt. Rev. Edem Etok, who scored 355 and four votes, respectively.

He said as he highlighted in his manifesto, there was an urgent need to pursue peace and mend fences as a way of building synergy without which the church cannot grow.

“The process that produced us as principal officers of our church to my mind left much to be desired because it involved several ungodly, unchristian and unethical practices,” Mr Akpanika explained. “I will liaise with other principal officers to immediately commence the process of electoral reforms to ensure that the next election of any officer of the church is done strictly in accordance with the Presbyterian watch-word.”

He added, “This implies that in every Presbyterian election, we will live above board and to the glory of God and endeavour to be a living example of the biblical model of leadership process. I enjoin all those who have at one time or the other given up hope on PCN for one reason or the other to rekindle their hope and come back ‘for the glory of the latter house shall be greater than that of the former’, Haggai 2 verse 9.”

Mr Akpanika pledged to work cordially with everyone, including the administrative staff in promoting the peace and unity of the church.

The prelate took over from Nzie Eke who was elected prelate of the church six years ago and served for two terms.

(NAN)