The intention for this paper was to find out if emotional intelligence is used as a requisite skill for pastoral leadership effectiveness especially within the churches of Southwest Nigeria, where there are some persistent and prevailing conflicts encountered in some churches between pastors and church members. Six research questions were raised to guide the study to which answers are given based on the findings of the study. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Out of a total of 900 Pastors, 120 were selected randomly. The instrument used to collate data was a self-designed questionnaire which benefitted from literature. The reliability of the instrument was done, and a coefficient value of 0.90 was obtained and hence, adjudged the instrument to be reliable. Findings revealed that 72% of the respondents attested that emotional intelligence is used as a requisite skill for pastoral leadership effectiveness within the churches of Southwest Nigeria. Pastors in South-West Nigeria are in a good way acquainted with the concept of emotional intelligence as they know about how it operates with them and demonstrate on a high level the essential competencies of emotional intelligence identified in Pastors of the churches in Southwest, Nigeria which is self –awareness competencies, self-management competencies, social awareness competencies, social skills competencies and relationship management competencies. It was revealed that there is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and effective pastoral leadership. It was recommended that, for the church leadership to achieve and meet up with the expectation, it is expected that the awareness and exhibition of emotional intelligence are essential in ensuring a conflict-free leadership.