The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, should be removed and prosecuted, according to the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), which has explained that its stance has nothing to do with religion.
Recall that SCSN sought Amupitan’s immediate resignation and prosecution last week, claiming that his integrity was compromised after he allegedly verified allegations of genocide and persecution against Christians in Nigeria in a court brief.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory criticized the Council for calling for the removal of the INEC Chairman and warned against using religion as a political tool in response to the SCSN’s call for Amupitan’s removal and prosecution.
The Council claimed in a statement released on Wednesday, February 2, that although its resolution was approved at its Annual Pre-Ramadan Conference and General Assembly on January 28, 2026, it was subsequently misunderstood and exaggerated.
SCSN claims that rather than the INEC chairman’s religious affiliation, the call was motivated by worries about national unity, constitutional duty, and the impartiality expected of an electoral arbiter.
The statement read, “The Council unequivocally states that its position is motivated by grave concerns relating to national cohesion, institutional integrity, and constitutionalism, not by religion or sectarian considerations.”
The Council noted that the majority of electoral body leaders have been Christians since Nigeria gained its independence in 1960 and that Muslims have never objected to their appointments on religious grounds.
“Christians have made up the vast majority of individuals in charge of Nigeria’s electoral institutions since Eyo Esua in 1964. Just two of the Commission’s thirteen (13) chairmen—Prof. Attahiru Jega and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu—are Muslims. Muslims have never organized religiously motivated resistance to any leadership. Instead of religion, institutional legitimacy was the basis for their acceptance. The assertion that the current call is motivated by religious bias is categorically refuted by this historical record, according to SCSN.
Prof. Amupitan’s documented record of behavior and opinions, especially a legal brief he wrote in 2020 that the Council deemed toxic, offensive, and strongly prejudiced against Nigerian Muslims and Northern Nigeria, is what sets his case apart, according to SCSN.
The Council stated that attempts to connect current unrest in the North to Sheikh Uthman bin Fodio’s 19th-century jihad and allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria are especially concerning.
According to the statement, “these claims are historically inaccurate and dangerously destabilizing in a fragile, multireligious country like Nigeria.”
The Council also voiced concern that these statements, which depict Nigeria as a nation facing religious annihilation, were purportedly made to foreign players.
“Such behavior is incompatible with the neutrality expected of the Chairman of INEC and constitutes a serious breach of patriotic responsibility,” the statement continued.
SCSN emphasized that violence in Northern Nigeria is complicated and affects both Muslims and Christians, rejecting the idea of a Christian genocide.
According to available data, the majority of victims in states like Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and others are Muslims. It is intellectually dishonest to promote a one-sided persecution story, according to the Council.
It went on to say that in a pluralistic society, people cannot be trusted if their prior works demonstrate prejudice or animosity toward a significant faith group.
Prof. Amupitan has not denied writing the document, apologized, or retracted it since the matter went public, according to SCSN, while the Federal Government has reportedly had to refute the allegations abroad.
The Council stated that “Nigeria has experienced embarrassment, financial cost, and reputational damage,” adding that these outcomes are sufficient justifications for dismissal and legal responsibility.
The seriousness of the damage is further highlighted by recent media allegations that claim millions of dollars were sent to foreign lobbyists in order to mitigate the consequences of these lies. Such repercussions alone provide adequate justification for resignation, dismissal, and legal responsibility in any responsible society,” he stated.
Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, the President of SCSN and Imam of Al-Furqan Mosque in Kano, stated in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that integrity is the only thing at stake.
It has nothing to do with religious affiliation. It is about having integrity and having the capacity to go too far on matters that may impair one’s judgment,” he stated.
The Council is an advocacy organization rather than a political party, Dr. Bashir continued.
“We’ve stated our stance. On behalf of the vast numbers of Muslims led by intellectuals and religious leaders under the Council, we only hope the President would pay attention to our appeal,” he stated.
In its closing remarks, the Council advised Nigerians to avoid being mislead by divisive narratives and reiterated its support for just and capable leadership regardless of faith.
The INEC Chairman is unreliable, according to Mukhtar Adnan
Mukhtar Adnan, a former candidate for the Kano State House of Assembly, has backed efforts to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from office, claiming that he cannot be trusted to oversee Nigeria’s electoral process.
In an exclusive interview, Adnan made the claim in response to the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria’s (SCSN) demand that the INEC chairman resign due to alleged issues with neutrality and integrity.
Adnan claims that if the chairman stays in office, the electoral body’s reputation will be jeopardized, particularly in light of claims that he sent a letter to international organizations accusing Nigerian Muslims of committing genocide against Christians.
“How do you expect a man who has adopted such a stance to be impartial?” Adnan enquired.
“Every piece of evidence indicates that he is an ethnic jingoist and tribalist, and such a person cannot be trusted to manage this country’s electoral process.”
He said that the letter erroneously stated that there had been genocide in Nigeria and was purportedly submitted to the United States and the United Nations under the chairman’s law firm’s name.
Concerns over the chairman’s objectivity have grown, according to Adnan, since he has not officially refuted writing the letter.
Adnan emphasized that the president of the electoral commission must be viewed as impartial and fair by all segments of the populace because Nigeria is a multiethnic and multireligious nation.
“I support Nigeria’s Supreme Council’s adherence to Shari’ah. The man ought to bow. He added, “The President ought to fire him.
In order to preserve the legitimacy of upcoming elections, he continued, the president should designate a credible individual who is impartial, free from religious or ethnic prejudice, and nonpartisan if the INEC chairman is dismissed.
To maintain public confidence, INEC must be totally impartial, according to Nura Usman
Comrade Nura Usman, a politician and young activist with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Kaduna, also supported the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), arguing that INEC’s leadership must be totally impartial in order to preserve public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
According to Usman, the Council’s concerns are too important to ignore.
Usman stated, “To maintain public trust, the electoral leadership must be completely neutral.”
“The Supreme Council for Shari’ah is reminding the nation that integrity and justice must guide our leadership by calling for fairness, accountability, and unity.”
He cautioned that disregarding the Council’s request to remove the INEC chairman could have dire repercussions, particularly at a time when Nigerian politics are sharply split along racial and religious lines.
“Loss of confidence in the electoral process will be the immediate consequence if this call is ignored,” he stated.
“Voter turnout may be impacted, and opposition parties may have grounds to contentiously contest the legitimacy of any new government.”
He claims that the long-term effects might be considerably more detrimental.
Long-term, it will cause people to lose faith in organizations like INEC that are meant to be autonomous. Additionally, it will exacerbate religious polarization and widen national divides.
Usman admitted that given the petition for the chairman’s dismissal originated with Muslim organizations, some Nigerians could see it through a religious prism.
He maintained, however, that this view ignores the true problem.
“We shouldn’t approach this from a tribal or religious perspective. Targeting Christians or any other minority group is not the goal. This is an appeal for the electoral process to be impartial, transparent, and accountable.
He went on to say that the President and the National Assembly must take prompt measures to appropriately address the problems brought about by the scandal.
“Failing to address this will affect the entire electoral process because the INEC chairman is still in office despite the legal brief he allegedly wrote, and the calls for his removal are growing,” he stated.
Usman went on to say that the purported legal brief posed a threat to national unity and accused the INEC chairman of harming Nigeria’s reputation abroad.
He ought to be responding to inquiries about a treasonous crime by now in a serious nation. You cannot use false information and fabricated facts to put your own nation in front of foreign authorities and yet be trusted to hold elections. That is extremely risky.
Usman contended that Nigeria shouldn’t permit “religion merchants” to have an impact on how elections are conducted.
Should we permit the use of religion in an election that will be tainted from the start? “I don’t believe so,” he answered.
Usman called for swift action, stating that the president should remove the incumbent INEC chairman and replace him with someone who is credible.
“The President may designate another Christian from a minority group or from anyplace in Nigeria after his removal. Religion and tribe mean nothing to anyone. Integrity is what counts.
He stated that a person who is seriously questioned about their neutrality and character shouldn’t be in charge of a delicate organization like INEC.
“An important institution like INEC cannot be led by someone who has a lot of unanswered questions,” he stated.
“INEC is overly delicate.” Anything that compromises its integrity needs to be taken out.
Usman also urged the President to involve stakeholders following any decision.
“The President ought to speak with interested parties and provide an explanation for the removal and replacement of the INEC chairman. That will support the rule of law, allay worries, and confirm the Electoral Commission’s independence.
He cautioned that letting the present chairman run elections in the future could lead to issues that last for decades.
“The issues might not be fixed even in the next fifty years if he runs the election,” he stated.
Usman emphasized that peace must continue to be Nigeria’s first concern.
“As Nigerians, we have to realize that the most important thing is peace. Nigeria won’t exist and elections won’t take place without peace. The President needs to pay attention and take prompt action.
