The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has intensified its demand for the immediate removal of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, warning that Muslims nationwide will not recognize or accept the legitimacy of any elections conducted under his leadership.
The council's president, Sheikh Bashir Umar, reiterated the position during the SCSN's 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja on January 28, 2026.
The event's theme, “Nigeria’s Future: Faith, Justice, and Leadership,” provided the platform for the renewed advocacy.
Umar anchored the call on what the council described as Amupitan's "questionable antecedents," specifically referencing a legal brief he authored alleging the existence of a "Christian genocide" in Nigeria, a claim repeatedly dismissed by the Federal Government.“
This is not the first time the Council is taking this position,” Umar stated. “In the legal brief he personally sent, he sought to establish the existence of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, a position that is in direct conflict with the official stance of the Federal Government, which has categorically stated that no such genocide exists.”
He described the document as divisive propaganda that undermines Amupitan's neutrality as head of Nigeria's electoral body. “For an umpire in a democratic process, you must have someone whose integrity is not compromised and who is clearly unbiased.
"As far as we are concerned, his integrity has been compromised. The honourable thing for him to do is to resign. If he does not, the government should dismiss or retire him.”
Umar clarified that while the SCSN is an advocacy organization and not engaged in litigation, it is aware of ongoing court challenges by other groups against Amupitan's appointment and tenure.
He emphasized the council's resolve: “The Ummah will not recognise or legitimise any election presided over by a character with questionable integrity, as democratic credibility must never be compromised.”
The lecture also addressed broader national concerns, including escalating insecurity, economic hardship, poor budget execution, perceived imbalances in federal appointments, and efforts perceived as undermining Muslims' constitutional rights to practice Shari’ah in Muslim-majority states.
The council explicitly rejected narratives of a "Christian genocide," arguing that such claims exacerbate divisions and endanger national unity.Contributing to the discourse, House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Funds Chairman and Zamfara State representative Aminu Sani Jaji highlighted the timeliness of the Pre-Ramadan gathering amid Nigeria's security and socio-political challenges.
He described Ramadan as a time for spiritual reflection and stressed the need for responsible handling of unverified claims and divisive narratives, including those of religious persecution.
Jaji referenced Nigeria's U.S. designation as a country of particular concern and dismissed "Christian genocide" allegations as misleading, reaffirming Nigeria's secular status.
Malam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru, the Madakin Zazzau, praised the SCSN for its longstanding role as a principled voice for Nigerian Muslims.
He noted the council's consistent engagement on religious and national issues, providing Qur’an- and Sunnah-based guidance while promoting peaceful coexistence, justice, and constructive dialogue with government and society.
The renewed call comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Amupitan, who was sworn in as INEC Chairman in October 2025 following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu and confirmation by the Senate.
The controversy stems from a 2020 legal brief he contributed to a report on alleged violence in northern Nigeria, which has fueled debates over his impartiality ahead of future elections, including those in 2027.
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