The Nigerian head of the local organising committee, Bishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe, accused other Nigerian Pentecostal preachers of sabotaging the crusade and peddling false information to Hinn and his aides out of envy, and to discredit him.

BBC: Pastor Hinn in Nigerian money row

"They're just peddling mis-information to try to put a positive spin on the decision they've made, " he said.

BBC: By Richard Haugh

In the 1930s George Gallup began polling people and peddling his findings to companies desperate for information about buyers.

FORBES: In Search of the Buy Button