By Aminu Bala
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has issued a detailed clarification on its recent call for the removal and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, following what it described as widespread misrepresentation and deliberate distortion of its position.
The clarification follows resolutions adopted at the Council’s Annual Pre-Ramadan Conference and General Assembly held on Wednesday, 9th Sha’aban 1447 AH (January 28, 2026), where issues bordering on national development, security, the economy, tax reforms, electoral governance and peaceful coexistence were discussed. One of the resolutions — calling for the removal of the INEC Chairman — attracted heightened public attention due to its political sensitivity.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Naku Baba Ahmad, mni, the Council stressed that its position was neither religious nor sectarian, but driven by concerns over national unity, institutional integrity, constitutionalism and sovereignty.
The SCSN recalled that since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, elections have been conducted under various electoral bodies — including ECN, FEDECO, NEC and INEC — without religion ever serving as a basis for opposition to electoral leadership. It noted that of the thirteen chairmen who have headed Nigeria’s electoral institutions, only two were Muslims, yet none faced resistance on religious grounds.
According to the Council, what distinguishes Prof. Amupitan’s case is not his faith, but what it described as a documented record of conduct and expressed views that fundamentally undermine the neutrality expected of an electoral umpire.
Central to the Council’s concern is a 2020 legal brief authored by Prof. Amupitan, which it said contains provocative and prejudicial assertions against Nigerian Muslims, the historical Caliphate and Northern Nigeria. Of particular worry, the Council said, are claims of a so-called “Christian genocide” and attempts to link present-day insecurity in Northern Nigeria to the 19th-century Jihad of Sheikh Uthman bin Fodio — assertions it described as historically inaccurate, destabilising and deeply divisive.
The Council further expressed alarm over reports that such claims were presented to foreign actors, portraying Nigeria as a theatre of religious extermination and inviting external pressure based on what it termed false premises. It said such actions were incompatible with the patriotism, restraint and neutrality required of the INEC Chairman.
Rejecting the “Christian genocide” narrative, the SCSN cited humanitarian data and international reports showing that insecurity in Northern Nigeria is complex, driven by terrorism, banditry, criminality, poverty and governance failures. It noted that both Muslims and Christians have suffered, but that available data indicate Muslims constitute the majority of victims in several northern states.
The Council also pointed out that since the controversy became public, Prof. Amupitan has neither denied authorship of the document nor issued an apology or retraction. It added that the Federal Government has reportedly had to publicly debunk the claims and expend diplomatic and financial resources to reassure foreign governments and institutions.
“These developments have caused Nigeria embarrassment, reputational damage and financial loss,” the Council said, adding that reports of millions of dollars allegedly paid to foreign lobbyists further underscore the gravity of the matter.
The SCSN reiterated that individuals who have demonstrated patterns of bias, falsehood or conduct inimical to national unity should not be entrusted with overseeing elections, which it described as the foundation of democratic governance. It therefore maintained that constitutional and legal processes should be invoked to secure Prof. Amupitan’s removal and address any attendant liabilities.
The Council reaffirmed that it does not oppose the appointment of Christians to public office, stressing its consistent support for just, fair and competent leadership irrespective of faith.
It also called on the Nigerian Christian community not to be misled by what it described as divisive narratives driven by personal or ideological agendas, while reaffirming the Muslim Ummah’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and justice for all Nigerians.
The statement was issued on 14th Sha’aban 1447 AH (February 2, 2026).
— SCSN
For advertisement or further advisory services, the public has been directed to contact +2348032077835.
For more information about Alfijir labarai/Alfijir news Fallow here 👇
https://twitter.com/Musabestseller?s=09
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089640289165
https://www.threads.net/@alfijirlabarai
https://www.youtube.com/@BestsellerChannel12
https://www.instagram.com/musa_bestseller?utm_source=qr&r=nametag
Alfijir labarai Alfijir News Whatsapp Group 👇👇
https://chat.whatsapp.com/H5oBRaZBdCVIyOTIV5eMfb?mode=ac_t