Special Feature
11 Nigerian Pastors Who Have Walked Away From Their Marriages
10 Nigerian Pastors Who Divorced Their Spouses
Divorce has always been a touchy subject in Christianity. The Bible frowns upon it, believers debate it, and the Church often treats it as a moral failure. For ordinary Christians, a failed marriage is painful enough—but when it happens to a pastor, it feels like an earthquake in the faith community. After all, how can the preacher of “till death do us part” become the protagonist of a separation story?
Yet, the truth is that pastors are human too. Their collars don’t shield them from heartbreak, incompatibility, or betrayal. While the idea of a clergyman divorcing his spouse still feels shocking to many Nigerian Christians, it’s hardly a novelty abroad.
Prominent Western ministers have also walked the difficult path of divorce, proving that even spiritual giants face the trials of love, loss, and human imperfection.
In the West, several high-profile ministers – like Kathryn Kuhlman, Kenneth Copeland, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Richard Roberts, Juanita Bynum, Paula White, and Joyce Meyer – have walked that difficult path.
Their experiences prove one thing: spirituality doesn’t cancel humanity. Even those who preach about love, forgiveness, and faith can stumble in the maze of marriage. And Nigeria, it seems, is slowly catching up to that reality.
Chris Okotie
The twice-divorced televangelist and former pop singer parted ways with his first wife, Tina, in 2001, and announced his second divorce in 2012. He cited irreconcilable differences, showing that even someone who teaches about love can struggle to sustain it.
Chris Kwakpovwe
He divorced his first wife before 2000 and remarried Flora Ejiro Kwakpovwe in 2000. The author of Our Daily Manna, Chris Kwakpovwe’s story highlights how pastors can find healing and hope in starting anew.
Ituah Ighodalo
Separated from his first wife, Lucy-Ann Summer, before 2007 and remarried later that year. The former RCCG pastor, now leading Trinity House, faced suspension from RCCG due to his remarriage, showing the tension between Scripture and real-life human needs.
David Benenoch
Founder of Communion Church, he announced his divorce from Esther Benenoch in 2012 after 23 years of marriage. He claimed it was divine instruction, sparking debates about whether pastors should be held to the same marital rules as their congregants.
John Egah
Divorced his first wife, Maureen, before remarrying Apostle Naomi Aderonke Egah in 2019. His divorce followed accusations of infidelity, reminding followers that pastors face the same marital challenges as everyone else.
Olumide Emmanuel
Married in 1997 and divorced after nine years (around 2006). Known for his prosperity teachings, he revealed that domestic abuse and emotional trauma led him to divorce, emphasizing that leaving a harmful marriage is not a sin.
Chris Okafor
Chris Okafor is the founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, popularly known as Liberation City, located in Ojodu, Lagos. In 2012, his wife, Bessem — the mother of their four children — left their home and never returned. Two years later, in 2014, she publicly accused him of assault and shared photos of injuries she claimed were from his attacks.
Chris Oyakhilome
Divorce was filed by his wife, Anita, in 2014 and finalized in 2016. Founder of Christ Embassy, their 22-year marriage ended allegedly due to infidelity, shaking the Christian world and challenging traditional views on pastoral marriages.
Joshua Iginla
Divorce was finalized before he married Prophetess Stella Zimasa in 2019. The founder of Champions Royal Assembly admitted to having a child outside wedlock while forgiving his wife for a similar mistake. Their separation shows that transparency and truth can coexist with heartbreak.
Francis Irabor
Though the exact date isn’t public, reports suggest his divorce happened post-2018. The respected clergyman kept his separation private, demonstrating that marital struggles can affect even the most disciplined ministers.
Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun
Opened up about her separation between 2021–2023. The Fountain of Life Church pastor explained that the split was due to circumstances beyond her control, noting that sometimes two good people simply aren’t meant to walk the same path.
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