The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has clarified its recent call for the removal and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, insisting that the position is not motivated by religious considerations.
In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Secretary General, Nafi’u Baba Ahmad, the Council said its resolution, adopted during its Annual Pre-Ramadan Conference and General Assembly held on January 28, 2026, had been misrepresented and taken out of context by some individuals.
According to the Council, its demand is based on concerns over national cohesion, institutional integrity, constitutionalism, and the credibility of the country’s electoral system.
“The Council states unequivocally that its position is not motivated by religion or sectarian considerations, but by grave concerns relating to national unity and the dangerous trajectory trailing the Chairman’s antecedents,” the statement said.
The SCSN noted that Nigeria’s electoral history shown that religion has never been a basis for opposing or supporting leaders of electoral bodies, adding that most past INEC chairmen have been Christians and were accepted by Muslims without objection.
It stressed that the controversy surrounding Prof. Amupitan was linked to a 2020 legal document reportedly attributed to him, which allegedly contained prejudicial remarks against Nigerian Muslims, Northern Nigeria, and the historical Caliphate.
The Council also expressed concern over claims of a “Christian genocide” in Northern Nigeria, which it described as false, misleading, and destabilising.
According to the statement, insecurity in the region is driven by terrorism, banditry, poverty, and governance failures, affecting both Muslims and Christians.
“Available data show that Muslims constitute the majority of victims in many affected states,” the Council said.
The SCSN further alleged that the controversial claims had been presented to foreign bodies, forcing the Federal Government to spend resources and diplomatic effort to counter what it described as misinformation.
It added that Prof. Amupitan had neither denied authorship of the document nor issued any apology, contributing to reputational damage to the country.
The Council argued that anyone seeking to oversee Nigeria’s electoral process must demonstrate impartiality, credibility, and respect for all faiths.
“A person whose record reveals deep-seated prejudice cannot reasonably command public trust in a plural society,” the statement noted.
Reiterating its stance, the SCSN said its call for the removal of the INEC Chairman was based strictly on character and conduct, not religion.
It also urged the Christian community to resist divisive narratives and reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and national unity.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the Council’s support for fair, just, and competent leadership across religious lines.
