LifestyleFirst Wife, Alleged Girlfriend And New Marriage: The Story Of Pastor Chris Okafor
By Benjamin Abioye
Published 16 hours ago on December 19, 2025By Benjamin Abioye
In recent weeks, the private life of Lagos-based cleric and founder of Grace Nation Church, Pastor Chris Okafor, has come under intense public scrutiny following a series of allegations and counter-narratives that have played out across social and traditional media.
At the centre of the discourse are three women who, at different times, have been linked to the cleric: his first wife and mother of his children, Bessem Okafor; Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, who claims to have been in a long-term adulterous relationship with him, and his newly wedded wife, Pearl, whose recent marriage to the pastor has further fuelled public interest.
Pastor Okafor was previously married in the early years of his ministry. That union produced children, establishing his first known family life long before his rise to national prominence as a televangelist.
Public records and media reports from over a decade ago indicate that the marriage later broke down, with both parties going their separate ways. At the time, the separation attracted media attention, including allegations of domestic disputes, though Pastor Okafor has largely kept details of that chapter of his life away from sustained public commentary in recent years.
What remains undisputed is that his first wife bore children for him, making her a significant figure in his personal history, even as both parties moved on independently after a tumultuous relationship ended in a divorce more than ten years ago.
The narrative took a dramatic turn in December 2025 when actress Doris Ogala publicly alleged that she had been in a years-long romantic relationship with Pastor Okafor and that he had promised to marry her.
Ogala claimed that the relationship began after his separation from his first wife, Bessem and that she made life-altering decisions based on assurances of marriage including abandoning her marriage to her previous husband. Through her legal representatives, she accused the cleric of breach of promise, emotional distress, and reputational damage, demanding substantial compensation.
Pastor Okafor has not, as of the time of reporting, publicly admitted to or detailed the alleged relationship, maintaining silence on several of the claims while proceeding with his personal life. The matter remains one of allegation, pending any court determination.
Amid the controversy, Pastor Okafor went ahead to marry Pearl, his latest wife, in a ceremony that quickly gained attention online. Pearl later addressed the public, describing the union as divinely ordained and expressing confidence in their future together.
Little is publicly known about Pearl’s background, a development that suggests a deliberate effort to shield her from the glare of prolonged media exposure. However, her emergence as the pastor’s wife has placed her squarely within the unfolding public conversation surrounding his personal affairs.
The intersection of faith, leadership, and personal conduct has continued to generate debate, with opinions sharply divided across social media and opinion columns. While some insist that private matters should remain private, others argue that public religious figures carry heightened moral expectations.
For now, Pastor Chris Okafor’s story reflects the complex overlap between personal history, public leadership, and modern media scrutiny—a reminder of how private relationships can quickly become matters of national conversation in today’s Nigeria.
