Ayokunle, Baptist president, succeeds Oritsejafor as CAN president

Olasupo Ayokunle, a reverend and the president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), has emerged the successor of Ayo Oritsejafor as president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Ayokunle was elected on Tuesday afternoon at the Christian Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.

His succession was announced by Oritsejafor, who has been president of the umbrella body for Christians in Nigeria, since July 2010.

According to NTA, the election was concluded and the result announced at about 2:30pm in Abuja.

Ayokunle led Joseph Otubu, from the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (MCCSW), by 54 to 28 votes.

Oritsejafor was reelected CAN president in 2013, after a three-year term, with Ayokunle elected as his deputy at the time.

Speaking after his reelection in 2013, Oritsejafor had said his main goal was to live out the motto of the body.

“We must speak with one voice in line with our motto: ‘That they all may be one.’ I want to dedicate my second term to bringing all Christians under one umbrella.

“I agree that there have been needless disagreements and controversies in our association in the past but I make a promise here today that I will be willing to bend over to bring about the much-desired unity and to make the Church one.

“CAN will now be more courageous in its defence of Christians in the hands of their persecutors within and outside the country.”