The founder of the Grace Nation International, also known as Liberation City, Pastor Chris Okafor, has temporarily stepped down from the pulpit.

The development came amid calls on the pastor to step down from his pastoral duties and leadership position in the church following a relationship scandal involving actress, Doris Ogala.

But it is unclear if the decision has anything to do with the relationship scandal and ensuing allegations against the cleric.

Announcing the news during the New Year service on Thursday, Chris Okafor asked four pastors under him to take over from for the month of January 2026.

“We have four Sundays in January, so, in the whole of these four Sundays, we would be having Pastor Sylvester,  Pastor Kelvin, Pastor Oliver, and Shadrach minister to you and anoint you every Sunday because it’s going to be prophetic Sundays.

“So, they will be here. While they are here, I will be resting, and it will be time for a personal retreat with God and time for me and my wife to rest because since our wedding we have not rested, we’ve not had time, we have not even done honeymoon,” the clergyman said.

Recall that the controversy started immediately the video of the pastor engaging his younger partner surfaced online.

Following the engagement, other women including  actress Doris Ogala called him out for promising them marriage and having sexual relationships with them.

Amid the controversy, Okafor wedded his new wife in another church after actress Ogala threatened to interrupt the ceremony.

DP