The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria(SCSN) has called for the immediate removal and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over what it described as his compromised electoral integrity.
The President of the council, Sheikh Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, made the demand on Wednesday in Abuja.
He was speaking at the 2026 Annual pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly, with the theme ‘Nigeria’s Future: Faith, Justice, and Leadership’.
The council at the event attended by Islamic scholars and delegates from across the country, said no election conducted under such circumstances could be considered credible.
“We demand the immediate removal and prosecution of the INEC chairman and declare that no election conducted under a cloud of compromised integrity can be recognised as credible,” Umar said.
He said that position of the INEC chairman in the legal brief which he established the existence of a Christian genocide, that the federal government has categorically dismissed and said that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria, puts him in direct conflict to what is the position of the nation.
He added that his position is an act that is unacceptable and has shown that he is clearly religiously biased and as an umpire for the democratic practice of electing a democratic government, there is the need to have someone who is clearly unbiased.
He said, “We need someone whose integrity is not compromised because of the compromise of his integrity, we feel that the honourable thing for him to do is to resign and if not, the government should actually dismiss him or at least retire him compulsorily from the service because his integrity is clearly compromised as far as we are concerned.”
The SCSN leader also said that the council firmly opposes any tax reform that imposes unjust hardship on ordinary Nigerians and insists that all fiscal policies must be equitable, humane, and socially
responsible.
He decried the effort to treat with kid gloves, a criminal act and major unconstitutional act by some agents of the Executive arm who substantially altered the approved bill by both Houses of the National Assembly.
“It is our considered view that the National Assembly should conduct a public hearing and more importantly, undertake a comprehensive forensic review of all laws passed since the commencement of this 10th Assembly.
“The Council unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms, and demands that the Government fulfil its constitutional duty to protect every Nigerian life through both security action and peaceful reconciliation, including the aggrieved victims.
“The Council categorically rejects the premeditated false and inflammatory propaganda of a “Christian genocide” narrative, and warns that dishonest public discourse fuels division, mistrust, and national instability,” Umar said.
He said the council equally opposes foreign interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, the establishment of any foreign military base, and affirms that the religious freedom of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah is constitutionally guaranteed and non-negotiable.
On his part, the Madakin Zazzau, Malam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru, said since its establishment of the council, it has served as a credible, principled, and courageous voice of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.
“It has consistently demonstrated concern not only for religious matters but also for the broader wellbeing, unity, and development of our nation.
“The Council has distinguished itself through strategic engagements, providing guidance rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah, defending constitutional rights, promoting peaceful coexistence, advocating justice, and constructively engaging government and society on critical national issues,” Ja’afaru said.
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