Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Christian Centre, Paul Enenche, has strongly criticised Islamic cleric Sheikh Sona Jingir over comments reportedly suggesting that Christians are subordinate to Muslims in Nigeria.

Enenche, who spoke during a church service on Sunday, described such a position as evidence of “insanity” or “mental dementia”, insisting that Christianity could not be regarded as a secondary religion in Nigeria.

Jingir had urged Muslims to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and support Muslim-Muslim tickets in future elections, arguing that such political support would demonstrate to what he referred to as “the infidels” that Muslims constituted the majority.

The cleric made the remarks on during a gathering attended by three governors, including Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Reacting to the development during his Sunday service, Enenche said he had been away for a crusade during the preceding week and only heard about the controversy after returning.

"I was away for a crusade this week past and I heard that a frenzy was going on where I think an insane man was seen saying Christianity is a subordinate religion to other religions in Nigeria," he said.

The Dunamis pastor condemned the assertion, maintaining that Christians could be found across virtually every part of the country, including predominantly Muslim areas in northern Nigeria.

"It takes insanity, mental dementia, either criminality, insanity or both, either in the prison or asylum, that's where such people belong, either in the prison or mental home, to say that Christians are secondary to any other religion. The Lord rebuke you. Christianity is not secondary and no group of fanatics will make it so," he said.

Enenche further cited the presence of Christians in states and communities across northern Nigeria, arguing that religious demographics should not be used to establish the superiority or inferiority of one faith over another.

"If you have sense, take a look around, there is no part of Nigeria whether in Sokoto or Maiduguri, Yobe that Christians are not there en masse. For the demon that possesses you, God rebuke you, God rebuke the demon that spoke through you," the pastor said.

The pastor also warned against attempts by religious or political groups to diminish the status of Christianity in the country.

"No religious group, no political group will ever make Christianity secondary. Nobody should take the body of Christ for granted," he added.

His comments come amid continuing debates over religious representation and the political use of religious identity in Nigeria, particularly ahead of future elections.

Enenche questioned the basis for claims about which religious group constitutes the majority, challenging those making such assertions to rely on credible population data rather than assumptions.

"If you think you are superior, why did you not take the census all this while, credible census and if you want it done, let everyone state what they believe in, you will be shocked," he said.

Nigeria’s last national population census was conducted in 2006, and even that exercise did not include questions on religion.

Enenche also accused Jingir of failing to make a positive contribution to the country and questioned what he described as the consequences of the speaker’s alleged activities.

"The speaker should ask himself, what contribution have you made in the country other than bloodshed, destruction and inciting violence?"

The pastor's remarks represent a sharp response to the reported comments attributed to Jingir and highlight the continuing tension surrounding religion, political mobilisation and electoral alliances in Nigeria.

While Muslim-Muslim political tickets have previously generated intense debate in the country, supporters have often argued that political candidates should be judged primarily on competence and their ability to govern, while opponents have raised concerns about religious balancing and representation in Nigeria's multi-faith society.

Enenche's intervention therefore adds another voice to the broader debate over the role of religion in Nigeria's political space, with the cleric insisting that neither political calculations nor religious rhetoric should be allowed to portray Christianity as subordinate to another faith.

The pastor concluded his remarks by warning that Christians and the wider body of Christ should not be taken for granted, while reiterating that no religious or political group could determine the status of Christianity in Nigeria.

Earlier, Gvoice reported that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, condemned the use of the word “infidel” by Sheikh Jingir while calling for support for Muslim-Muslim political tickets.

CAN Chairman in the region, Rev. John Hayab, described the remark as offensive and capable of worsening religious tension in the country.

Hayab said the presence of three governors at the event made the remark more troubling, arguing that the statement should have been immediately condemned. He said referring to Christians as “infidels” was derogatory and could encourage hatred and violence against people of other faiths.

"The man did not say it in his room; he said it in the presence of three governors, and they were all smiling. This is an action that should have been rebuked instantly,” Hayab said.

He said CAN was not opposed to Muslims supporting a Muslim candidate because of the candidate’s political or personal qualities. Hayab, however, said using religious language to describe Christians in a derogatory manner was unacceptable and could further strain relations between religious communities.