Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — A controversial call by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has ignited renewed debate and political pushback from across the country’s civil, religious and political landscape. The demand by the influential Islamic clerical body — based in part on allegations about the INEC chairman’s past legal commentary — has prompted reactions from civic organisations, religious associations and prominent political figures, including former Kaduna State governor and opposition politician Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai.
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, speaking at its 2026 Pre‑Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly in Abuja, articulated a position of no confidence in Professor Amupitan’s leadership. The council argued that Amupitan’s alleged authorship of a legal brief asserting that Christians in Nigeria were subject to “genocide” undermines his neutrality and could jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 general elections. The SCSN declared that Muslims nationwide might refuse to recognise any election conducted under his stewardship unless he resigns or is removed from office, framing its demands as necessary to safeguard democratic integrity.
The Sharia Council’s stance has been met with swift and robust opposition from several quarters. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representing Christian congregations across the country’s northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, dismissed the call as a dangerous attempt to politicise religion and threaten national unity. CAN leadership emphasised that religious affiliation should not be used as grounds to disqualify someone from public service, stressing that competence and integrity are the appropriate benchmarks for evaluating public officials.
Similarly, the Christian Media Forum condemned the Sharia Council’s demands as baseless and highly divisive, warning that such rhetoric could inflame sectarian tensions and erode public trust in democratic institutions at a sensitive time for Nigeria’s socio‑political future. The forum urged religious leaders to prioritise peace and national cohesion.
Against this backdrop, some Muslim advocacy groups, such as the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), have aligned with the Sharia Council’s position, reiterating concerns over Amupitan’s perceived biases and calling for his removal to protect electoral credibility. These positions underscore the complex interplay of religion, politics and public trust in Nigeria’s increasingly fractious pre‑election environment.
Amid these developments, Nasir El‑Rufai, a senior opposition politician and former governor of Kaduna State, has also weighed in, though not directly on the Sharia Council’s specific demand for the removal of the INEC chairman. El‑Rufai’s recent public statements reflect broader criticism of the current administration and the handling of institutional governance, underlining his ongoing role as a vocal opponent of the ruling government’s policies and approaches.
In speeches and media appearances in recent weeks, El‑Rufai has urged greater adoption of technology across northern Nigeria and advocated for modernisation in electoral processes, emphasising the need for credible and transparent elections. While his remarks were positioned in a developmental context, analysts interpret them within the larger narrative of electoral preparedness ahead of the 2027 polls — and as implicit commentary on the broader issues of electoral credibility under the current INEC leadership.
El‑Rufai’s political positioning has evolved in recent years. Once a senior figure within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2025 in pursuit of a broader coalition platform aimed at challenging the APC’s dominance ahead of the 2027 elections. His defection, however, has been fraught with controversy, including internal party disputes and later political realignments, reflecting the turbulence within Nigeria’s opposition politics.
Observers note that El‑Rufai’s engagement on issues related to electoral integrity and governance — even where not directly linked to the Sharia Council’s denunciation of the INEC chairman — aligns with a wider political strategy to spotlight perceived shortcomings in state institutions and mobilise support for opposition realignment ahead of general elections. Analysts caution that el‑Rufai’s rhetoric, coupled with religious and regional dynamics, could contribute to further polarisation if not tempered by inclusive dialogue and institutional safeguards.
The Federal Government has thus far not issued a detailed response to the Sharia Council’s demand, and INEC officially characterised the council’s position as a publicity‑seeking exercise, insisting the commission will not dignify the allegations with a formal counter. The government’s measured public stance suggests an effort to avoid exacerbating tensions while maintaining constitutional processes and respect for institutional independence.
The controversy emerges against mounting pressure on Nigeria’s electoral system to demonstrate competence and inclusivity amid socio‑economic challenges and heightened public scrutiny. Nigeria’s judiciary, civil society and international partners are expected to play critical roles in monitoring the situation as the nation approaches its next electoral cycle. The ongoing discourse underscores the fragile balance between religious advocacy, institutional legitimacy and democratic resilience in one of Africa’s most populous and politically significant nations.
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