“Losing the 2023 Election Broke My Heart” — Banky W Opens Up

Nigerian singer, actor and entrepreneur Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has revealed how his defeat in the 2023 general election affected him emotionally and influenced his decision to embrace pastoral ministry.

The entertainer, who contested for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the outcome of the election left him heartbroken and prompted him to seek God’s direction for his future.

Banky W made the revelation while marking his first anniversary as a pastor, reflecting on how the disappointment became a turning point in his spiritual journey.

According to him, he initially struggled to determine whether his next chapter should focus on politics, entertainment, business or ministry.

He explained that after the election, he took his disappointment to God and sought clarity about his purpose.

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The singer said he eventually realised that he did not have to choose between his different interests because they could all form part of his assignment.

“I realised I was asking God to choose between things He had never asked me to separate. It wasn’t either/or. It was all of the above,” he stated.

Banky W added that his understanding of his calling changed as he came to see pastoral ministry as an expansion of his responsibilities rather than an abandonment of his existing career.

He noted that he would continue working as a filmmaker, musician and entrepreneur while serving as a pastor and professor.

Reflecting on the past year, the entertainer said the election defeat, despite being painful, helped him recognise that his future could be different from what he had initially imagined.

He expressed gratitude to God for the direction his life had taken, describing the experience as a reminder that an apparent setback could lead to a new opportunity.

Banky W concluded by celebrating his first pastoral anniversary and asking his followers to congratulate him on the milestone.

His account highlights how the outcome of the 2023 election influenced his personal reflections and eventual transition into pastoral ministry.