The Dunamis pastor says Christians are a significant part of Nigeria’s population and urges authorities to address comments capable of heightening religious tension.

Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre has strongly criticised recent comments by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir on Nigeria’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and the religious balance in the country.

Enenche spoke during the church’s Sunday service in Abuja on August 16, 2026, where he rejected suggestions that Christians are a minority or subordinate group in Nigeria.

The pastor argued that Christians constitute a significant portion of the Nigerian population and questioned claims that Muslims are numerically superior to Christians.

He called for a credible national census that would include religious affiliation, saying this would provide reliable data on the actual religious composition of the country rather than relying on competing claims.

“If you say Muslims are more than Christians, let us have a census,” Enenche said, while stressing the need for accurate figures to settle the argument.

The cleric also expressed concern over statements he considered capable of inflaming religious tensions. He questioned why security agencies had not invited Jingir to explain comments that, in his view, could contribute to religious division and potentially threaten public peace.

Enenche urged the government and security authorities to take provocative statements seriously and intervene before inflammatory rhetoric escalates into conflict.

He maintained that individuals making statements capable of creating tension should be called to order, arguing that maintaining peace requires authorities to respond to potentially divisive rhetoric.

The controversy comes amid renewed debate over the 2027 presidential election, particularly following Jingir’s advocacy for the continuation of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

Jingir has reportedly defended his position on the matter and said he has no regrets over his comments concerning the religious composition of Nigeria and the political arrangement ahead of the 2027 elections.

The latest exchange has added to an already sensitive national debate over religion, political representation and the need to maintain peaceful relations between Nigeria’s major faith communities.

With the 2027 elections approaching, comments by prominent religious and political figures on the issue are expected to continue attracting public attention as Nigerians debate what should guide the country’s political choices.