Worship activities at St. David’s Anglican Church, Ibulesoro, in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State were disrupted on Sunday as members staged a protest against their cleric, Venerable Adebanjo, over alleged financial irregularities and leadership concerns.
The demonstration, which took place during Palm Sunday service, led to the closure of the church as aggrieved congregants locked the auditorium and main gates, effectively preventing access to the premises.
Participants in the protest, comprising men, women, and youths, openly declared their opposition to the continued leadership of the cleric, insisting that they could no longer operate under his administration.
Sources within the church disclosed that the dispute had been ongoing for weeks, with tensions escalating over claims that the vicar sidelined church elders in major decisions, especially those involving finances.
A prominent member alleged that certain contracts were awarded without the input or approval of the church’s leadership council, raising concerns about transparency.
Beyond financial issues, some members also accused the cleric of making derogatory remarks during sermons, which they said amounted to verbal abuse and spiritual intimidation.
Youth members of the congregation expressed particular displeasure, alleging that they had been repeatedly insulted during church services.
A member of the youth fellowship noted that the crisis had already disrupted key church activities, including the cancellation of the annual harvest programme last year.
Some congregants further stated that complaints had earlier been taken to the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese, who reportedly visited the church in response to the situation.
However, they expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of decisive intervention, noting that the issues remained unresolved.
As of press time, normal activities had yet to resume, with uncertainty lingering over the future of the church leadership.
