Following the viral reports which circulated on social media regarding the alleged cancellation of a wedding ceremony in Okpu 9 Aba, the Aba Central District Presbytery of the Assemblies of God Church has officially addressed the matter and provided clarity after thorough investigations.
In a statement released by the District Secretary Rev Dr Chidiogo Enyinnaya on behalf of the Presbytery, the church emphasized that no stone was left unturned in unraveling the true circumstances surrounding the failed wedding ceremony which was scheduled to hold on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
The church confirmed that the groom, Mr. Obioma Onyekachi, a former member of the local church before the current pastor Rev Israel Chiemezuo was posted there, had approached the church to hold his wedding. The church board granted his request.
However, there was initial disagreement between the groom and the church regarding a requirement that the bride spend the night before the wedding at the parsonage, as part of spiritual preparation and tradition. Mr. Onyekachi strongly objected to this, insisting that his in-laws mandated that the bride should come directly from her home on the morning of the wedding. After much deliberation, the local church leadership eventually yielded and granted the couple permission for the bride to arrive from her home on the day of the wedding. Mr. Onyekachi acknowledged that the church gave this approval.
On the scheduled wedding day, Sunday, April 27, the couple was noticeably absent from the church service. From the start of the service in the morning, neither the groom nor the bride was seen. It was not until around 12:15 PM ,when the Sunday service was already at the point of dismissal , that they arrived for the ceremony.
When questioned about the late arrival, Mr. Onyekachi explained that they had a last-minute disappointment from their wedding gown vendor, which caused serious delays in their preparation. He admitted that this unexpected challenge greatly affected their ability to arrive on time. When asked why he didn’t call the church to inform them of the situation, he confessed that he forgot to make any contact due to the pressure of the moment.
The District Presbytery emphasized that the reason the wedding did not take place had nothing to do with the earlier disagreement about the bride’s pre-wedding stay at the parsonage, as some reports claimed. That matter had already been resolved in the couple’s favor. “The actual reason was the late arrival of the couple — when the church was already closing and most of the congregation had dispersed”.
On the issue of misleading reports on social media, the groom denied initiating or authorizing any such posts, attributing the viral content to emotional reactions from aggrieved friends or family members. He acknowledged his role in the situation, apologized to the church leadership, and promised to set the record straight.
While some members of the public criticized the local church for not going ahead with the wedding once the couple arrived even if it was late ,the District Presbytery resolved to encourage Mr. Onyekachi following the difficult experience and assured of continued support going forward.
