By Fatima Abubakar
The Abuja Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised concerns over what it described as an alleged religious imbalance in the composition of the 2026 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 78 Regular Course admission list.
MURIC, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Abuja Chapter Chairman, Ustaz Yunus Salahudeen, and its Public Relations Officer, Lukman Laleye Babalola , said its preliminary assessment of the admission list revealed what it considered significant disparities in the representation of Muslims and Christians across several states.
The group also questioned the religious composition of key officials overseeing the NDA admission process, alleging that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chairman of the NDA Selection Board, Commandant of the NDA, Registrar and Provost are all Christians.
According to MURIC, the situation raised concerns about balance, fairness and objectivity in the admission process, as well as compliance with the Federal Character principle enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
The organisation cited several examples from its preliminary analysis. It alleged that in Adamawa, six of the 10 successful candidates were Christians, while all three reserve candidates were also Christians. In Benue, it said only one of the 10 successful candidates was a Muslim, with all three reserves being Christians.
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MURIC further alleged that Edo had no Muslim among the successful and reserved candidates it reviewed, while Ondo also had no Muslim among 13 candidates, including reserves.
The group said similar disparities were observed in Ekiti, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau and Taraba, among other states.
However, MURIC noted that its assessment was preliminary and called for the full criteria and data used in the admission process to be made public.
The group therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately intervene and direct a review of the 78 Regular Course admission list to ensure what it described as fairness and balance.
It also urged the Federal Government to reconstitute key admission and appointment positions in the NDA to better reflect Nigeria’s religious and ethnic diversity.
MURIC further demanded that the NDA publish the criteria used in selecting candidates, including the cut-off marks and quota allocated to each state.
“As the saying goes, a problem identified is a problem half solved,” the group said, expressing confidence that the Presidency would act promptly to address its concerns and promote national unity, equity and cohesion.
