The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has renewed its call for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, over alleged bias and lack of neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 29, 2026, the Chairman of MURIC, Kano State Chapter, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa, said the organisation aligned with the position of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), which had earlier warned that Muslims nationwide might not recognise elections conducted under Amupitan’s leadership.
The SCSN made its position known on January 28, 2026, during its Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja.
Malam Indabawa stated that MURIC had previously demanded Amupitan’s removal in separate statements issued in November 2025, citing concerns over a legal brief he authored in 2020 on alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
According to the organisation, the document, titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria: The Implications for the International Community,” described attacks by insurgents and bandits as part of what it termed a coordinated anti-Christian campaign.
MURIC argued that the contents of the brief were divisive and contradicted the official position of the Federal Government, which has consistently dismissed claims of genocide in the country.
The group also referenced concerns raised by the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), which alleged that Amupitan was part of the legal team for the ruling party during the 2023 presidential election petition, raising questions about possible conflict of interest.
Malam Indabawa said the continued stay of Amupitan as INEC chairman could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“Our position is that his continued leadership of INEC will erode the credibility and legitimacy of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
He added that MURIC was calling for Amupitan’s immediate removal, resignation, or prosecution in order to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
The organisation maintained that only a neutral and widely accepted leadership at INEC could guarantee free, fair, and credible elections.
