Enenche Blasts Security Agencies, Questions Silence Over Jingir’s Controversial ‘Muslim-Muslim Ticket’ Remarks

• Paul Enenche has criticised security agencies for not questioning Sheikh Muhammad Jingir over his recent religious and political remarks.

• Jingir urged Muslims to mobilise their votes and support the continued use of Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets.

• Enenche warned that provocative religious statements could heighten tensions and potentially trigger violence.

• The controversy has reignited debate over religion, political mobilisation and Nigeria’s delicate religious balance.

August 17, () — Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche, has criticised Nigeria’s security agencies for failing to question Islamic cleric Sheikh Muhammad Jingir over comments advocating continued support for Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets.

Speaking during a sermon on Sunday, August 16, 2026, Enenche said authorities should scrutinise public statements capable of heightening religious tensions or triggering violence.

He particularly questioned why security agencies had not invited Jingir for questioning following remarks in which the cleric urged Muslims to mobilise their votes and maintain what he described as the group’s political dominance.

“I blame security forces for allowing people to make reckless statements,” Enenche said. “You allow them still moving on the road, not knowing that such a statement can incite instant violence.”

NOBODY SHOULD TAKE THE BODY OF CHRIST FOR GRANTED!‼️

To the agents of the devil in our nation 🇳🇬, in the name of Jesus, the Lord rebuke you, and the devil that spoke through you and everything that you represent.

The Body of Christ is here, and will be here for a very long… pic.twitter.com/qoGo1Aqt1B

— Dr Paul Enenche (@drpaulenenche) August 16, 2026

Enenche also rejected suggestions that Christianity should be regarded as subordinate to Islam or any other religion in Nigeria, arguing that Christians constitute a substantial portion of the country’s population.

“Christianity is not secondary, and no group of religious fanatics will ever make it secondary,” he said.

The pastor’s comments followed controversy over remarks made by Jingir, Chairman of the Ulama Council of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’ikamatis Sunnah, at a special wedding reception organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples whose marriages it sponsored.

Jingir urged Muslims to prepare to vote in a way that, according to him, would demonstrate their numerical strength and ensure the continued success of Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets.

Nigeria is a Muslim country and if you don’t want to accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket, you should leave Nigeria because it belongs to us.

— Sheikh Yahaya Jingir preaching to Muslims pic.twitter.com/P51Emb7bGV

— Bia Pulse (@BiaPulse) August 9, 2026

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He also described Nigeria as a Muslim country and said Christians who rejected such political arrangements should leave the country.

The comments triggered reactions across political and religious circles, with critics warning that rhetoric framed around religious numerical dominance could deepen existing divisions in a country where religious identity remains politically sensitive.

Jingir, however, defended his position in an interview with the BBC, saying he had no regrets about advocating Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets. He also maintained that his position predated the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election brought the issue of religious balancing to the forefront after Tinubu, a Muslim, selected Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim, as his running mate. The decision generated criticism from some Christian groups and political opponents, although the administration defended the ticket as a political rather than religious choice.

Enenche warned that continued provocative rhetoric should not be dismissed, arguing that authorities had a responsibility to assess whether public statements could contribute to violence.

“Nobody should take the church in this nation for granted. Don’t take the church for granted,” he said.

The controversy has also drawn comments from other political figures, including National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode.

The latest exchange comes amid broader debates over the role of religion in Nigeria’s political mobilisation ahead of future elections, with competing appeals based on religious identity continuing to attract scrutiny from political actors, civil society groups and religious leaders.