The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has openly declared war against a proposed crackdown on evangelism, with its National President, Bishop Wale Oke, vowing that Christians will actively defy any law banning preaching in commercial vehicles.

Speaking during a fiery Sunday sermon, Bishop Oke heavily criticized the National Assembly for pursuing what he termed "evil decrees." He insisted that soul-winning remains an uncompromising divine mandate that overrules human legislation.

“Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become prisons; if you want to enforce that law, we are coming. We will break that law," Oke declared. "Our Master told us to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. You sit somewhere there, and you are saying we shouldn’t preach in buses. We will preach in buses! We will preach everywhere! We will rather obey God than man.”

The cleric berated lawmakers for focusing legislative energy on peaceful religious activities while the country grapples with severe security challenges.

“You don’t go after killers; you are not going after those beheading; you are not going after rapists, kidnappers, or bandits unlawfully carrying arms," Oke fired back. "You are going after us who are preaching the message of peace that changes people’s lives. We wouldn’t listen to you. You are not God!”

He went further to issue a stern spiritual warning to the sponsors of the restriction, stating that divine consequences and curses would follow them and their families unless they repent.

The PFN leader`s outburst follows intense public backlash triggered by the recent passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026. The bill reportedly proposes a ₦50,000 fine for anyone caught hawking, trading, or preaching inside commercial vehicles.

In a swift bid to calm public anxiety, the Senate issued a clarification on Monday through a statement from the Office of the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele. The upper legislative chamber clarified that the restriction is not a new provision but has been part of the existing FRSC Establishment Act and National Road Traffic Regulations since 2007.

The statement read: “The Senate has duly noticed public concerns on the purported proscription of preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle under the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, No. 22, 2007.”

Bishop Oke’s defiance mirrors a growing wave of resistance from Nigeria`s most influential Christian leaders.

Dr. Paul Enenche (Dunamis International Gospel Centre): Warned against policies restricting peaceful gospel propagation, asserting that evangelism is a core Christian duty.

Bishop David Oyedepo (Living Faith Church / Winners Chapel): Maintained that soul-winning is central to Christianity and urged believers never to back down in the face of institutional opposition.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye (Redeemed Christian Church of God): Reaffirmed his consistent charge to members to peacefully share their faith in accordance with biblical mandates.

As the legislative amendment moves forward, the standoff between church leaders and state authorities signals a brewing constitutional and religious debate over freedom of worship in public spaces.