Every political contest for the control of any territory by any people anywhere in the world is only a physical manifestation of the contest of spiritual forces over that territory. From the moment authority over the earth was delivered to him by Adam, Satan and his cohorts have claimed and enforced authority over political systems and earthly kingdoms (Luke 4:5-7).
So, they rule from the spirit realm (Eph. 6:12) by influencing the actions and behaviours of humans and consequently the shape of territories and nations, delaying the establishment of God’s purposes (Daniel 10:12-13, 20).
To be clear, Satan does not own the earth, for it is the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1). However, following the original sin, fallen spirit beings have continued to exert territorial influence, seeking to blind people’s minds against God and resist His purposes for individuals, towns, cities and nations.
Those who understand this know that the contest to take political leadership of cities and nations is not just a matter of campaign posters, rallies and elections. It is a spiritual battle, and this plays out in every election cycle, as we are currently witnessing in Nigeria.
Ever wondered why a teeming population of people is so deceived that even when they are clearly being lied to by politicians, misgoverned, cheated, left ignorant and treated with ignominy, they still troop out to praise the same politicians at every election cycle? They cheer and vote them back into power to continue oppressing them! It’s the power of hypnosis, transactions that alter people’s consciousness and leave them numb to reality.
Battle to Rule Nigeria
No one who understands spiritual power dynamics would doubt the involvement of dark forces in the desperation, underhand dealings and violence that characterise elections in Nigeria and countries around the world.
These might be explained away by analysts as stemming from political intolerance, greed, lust for power and so on. In actual fact, they are manifestations “…according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2).
At the back of it all are the dark spirit beings controlling and influencing human behaviours and actions in the bid to retain or strengthen their hold on the territory and dislodge any semblance of righteous authority in opposition to their rule. Because “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn” (Prov. 29:2).
The mortal fight among political parties for leadership and control, as well as the war of words and sometimes violence by the human pawns in the contest, are only a tiny reflection of the larger battle by the unseen spiritual forces to rule Nigeria. As the 2027 General Elections draw closer, expect this battle to intensify.
Some of the political actors at different levels know the places to go to and the controlling powers to consult and partner with in order to be at their considered vantage position to dislodge their opponents.
They leave political pundits who cannot discern beyond the physical to analyse outcomes, based on who is seen as possessing the overriding political sagacity, popularity and financial power.
The Scripture makes us understand that we do not “…wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Eph.6:12).
What Believers Should Do
Christians, genuine believers that is, might well be reminded that, even as they join the contest at various levels, they must always remember that the forces that control the physical are unseen and must master the art of wielding their weapons through the Lord for positive outcomes in the physical realm.
For those weapons are not carnal but are effective in pulling down strongholds, cutting off the sources of power for those who partner with dark spiritual forces to unleash their controlling influence on the people.
This is where the Church has failed over the years. We pray for Nigeria, but we pray generically. We bind and loose without intelligence. We fast for personal breakthrough while principalities over our governmental institutions sit undisturbed.
Discernment Before Intercession
You cannot war against what you know nothing about. Daniel did not just pray; he was told why his prayer was delayed — the Prince of Persia withstood him for 21 days (Daniel 10:13). Christians must move from emotional prayers to intelligent intercession.
Every territory in Nigeria has a prevailing altar — altars of bloodshed, altars of mammon, altars of perversion, altars of idolatry. The 2027 election is not just APC vs ADC or NDC. It is the clash of those altars against the altar of God.
Believers should take these questions to God: What is the ruling power in my ward? My LGA? My state? Who are the men who service those altars to secure political power? Cutting off those powers and their controlling influence would ensure a different outcome of the elections in those places.
Raise Altars of Righteousness
The answer to a dark altar is not a protest. It is raising a superior altar. While politicians go to shrines to renew covenants at midnight, where are the Christians raising altars of righteousness at midnight? We must return to organised, territorial prayers as individuals, groups and churches.
Prayer declarations over INEC offices and its officials, over polling units, over collation centres. Prayer that says: “O God, let your Kingdom come in Lagos, in Kano, in Port Harcourt.”
If Satan was shown all the kingdoms of the world in a moment (Luke 4:5), it means kingdoms can be taken in a moment of spiritual transaction. We must take them back in prayer before they are taken on election day.
Occupy, Not Just Criticise
Believers must enter the system. It is hypocrisy to call politics dirty while abandoning it for those who have covenanted with darkness to rule it. Daniel was a politician in Babylon. Joseph was Prime Minister in Egypt. Obadiah was head of protocol in Ahab’s government and hid prophets.
We need more than Christian commentators. We need Christian contestants, men and women of conscience and courage — as delegates during party primaries, as polling agents, as INEC ad-hoc staff, as ward chairmen, as candidates. Light does not influence from outside; it must shine inside out.
After prayers, believers must arm themselves with their PVCs, know their polling units, and trained to protect votes. Righteousness cannot win elections from prayer mountains alone.
Refuse To Be Used As Pawns
Believers must reject ethnic and denominational manipulation. The greatest weapon of the prince of the power of the air in Nigeria is division. Hausa vs Igbo vs Yoruba. Dark powers know that a divided Church cannot take a nation; when ministers entrusted with the oracles of God leave their mandate to analyse, attack and tear up their colleagues on the pulpits.
When Christians vote tribe over truth, denomination over discernment, they have already partnered with the very forces they claim to be praying against.
Preach Righteousness As Policy
Enough of the Church being silent or sidelined on issues of governance. God must have something to say about justice for the poor, about education, about security, about transparency, about equity, about corruption and deception.
The Church must teach the world about Kingdom governance, discipling members to think biblically about economy, not just about tithes; teaching those who will win on how to rule righteously.
Psalm 24:1 says the earth is the Lord’s. Satan is a squatter, not an owner. But squatters become owners when the real owners refuse to show up. The battle to rule Nigeria is beyond what the eyes can see, but the weapons to win it are in the hands of those who see beyond the physical.
The Church is not a spectator in this battle. The Church is the battlefield commander. If we fail to pray intelligently, stand corporately, and occupy faithfully, we will have no moral right to complain about the outcome of 2027.
FOOT NOTE:
Part of the thoughts expressed in this piece had been articulated in an earlier write up on this platform by the same writer, but they bear repeating here, especially as the activities leading to the 2027 General Elections gather momentum. It is also necessary for Christians to call them to mind to accurately intercede and move the hand of God in deciding the outcome of the polls.
