Controversy continues to swirl around the December wedding of Pastor Chris Okafor after veteran Nigerian pastor Matthew Ashimolowo came under sharp criticism for officiating the ceremony amid unresolved public allegations surrounding the groom’s personal life.
Pastor Kesiena Esiri, among others, has openly challenged the decision of Pastor Ashimolowo — who is widely respected within Nigerian and international Christian circles — to preside over the union without first addressing what Esiri and his supporters describe as serious moral questions. In a viral online video and social media posts, Esiri said it was “troubling” that a senior cleric would endorse the wedding of someone allegedly involved in unresolved personal scandals without public accountability.
Esiri pointed to rumours and allegations circulating within church networks about Okafor’s past conduct, including claims of a prior divorce and abandonment of his former spouse and four children — matters he said should have been dealt with before celebrating the wedding. He warned that religious leaders risk sending the wrong message to congregants when they appear to prioritise influence or reputation over integrity and biblical standards.
Rev. Kesiena Esiri calls out Matthew Ashimolowo for joining Pastor Chris Okafor and his wife pic.twitter.com/4EHnloCDkk
— Naija Trend (@NaijaTrend_1) December 23, 2025
This criticism has intensified against the backdrop of a high-profile dispute involving actress Doris Ogala, who had publicly accused Okafor of betrayal after a long-term personal relationship and alleged broken promises of marriage. Her outcry, which included legal action seeking damages, went viral and sparked nationwide debate before she was arrested — and subsequently released — earlier this week.
Ogala’s arrest, reportedly linked to posts she made about the cleric online, drew intervention from social activists including Omoyele Sowore and influencer VeryDarkMan, who pushed for her release and criticised the handling of her detention.
In response to the criticism, Pastor Chris Okafor used his wedding thanksgiving service to address detractors, describing the backlash as spiritual opposition and affirming his commitment to explain his story in due course. He thanked supporters and pledged to continue his ministry, indicating that “the devil had become angry” at the reception they shared of the ceremony.
Reactions online have been mixed, with some netizens echoing concerns about accountability among religious leaders and others defending the autonomy of personal decisions within ministry life. The debate highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s religious landscape over leadership standards, reputational risk, and the influence of social media on public perception.
Social media users expressed disbelief that the wedding went ahead despite ongoing allegations by actress Doris Ogala, who publicly accused Pastor Okafor of ending a long-term relationship with her and later marrying someone else. Critics on X (formerly Twitter) reacted strongly to the wedding photos:
“So she went ahead to marry this man after all the red flags…”
“Nobody in the comment section is tapping.”
“This man has no moral ground to tell his members not to fornicate before marriage.” — one commenter said.
Others criticised the apparent lack of accountability, warning that the pastor’s actions could be repeated in future relationships.
Conversely, some commenters offered support to the couple:
“Congrats to the newlyweds!”
“May this marriage be blessed despite the noise online.”
— Comments from Instagram and Facebook
