Pastor Kayode Pitan is announced as the substantive Pastor of the elite parish of the RCCG.
The church’s governing council made the decision during the recent RCCG annual convention.
The change in the leadership of the church is believed to have been prompted by public discontent regarding the lavish 60th birthday celebration of Iluyomade’s wife, Siju Iluyomade, which occurred days after the unfortunate passing of Herbert Wigwe, the former CEO of Access Bank and a notable church member.
Wigwe is said to be a devout and strong financial member of the parish.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is said to have finally ended the tenure of Idowu Iluyomade as the resident Pastor of the City of David.
A video from the extravagant event featured renowned Nigerian high-life artist Flavour N’abania performing popular songs such as Ada Ada, Berna, and Adamma for Siju.
In response to the video, several social media users expressed concerns about the appropriateness of the celebration’s timing and the involvement of Flavour, a secular artist, at a pastor’s event within.
Following this backlash, the church’s Governing Council suspended Iluyomade for three months in June 2024 and appointed Pastor Charles Kpandei from RCCG Resurrection Parish as his temporary replacement.
According to sources quoted by Church Times, Pastor Pitan will now take over from Pastor Kpandei, who has been serving as the interim pastor since Iluyomade’s suspension.
Before this appointment, Pitan was the Pastor in Charge of the Tabernacle of David in Region 51 and also held the position of Regional Pastor.