The Supreme Council for Shari’ah has called for the immediate removal of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, declaring that it will not recognise any election conducted under his leadership.
The council, through its President, Professor Sheikh Bashir Aliyu, said the INEC chairman could not be trusted to conduct credible elections amid growing allegations of corruption and concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.
Aliyu maintained that an electoral umpire whose integrity is already being questioned cannot guarantee a free, fair and transparent election. He stressed that public confidence in the electoral body must be protected to ensure the credibility of future elections.
The council also raised serious concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s voters’ register, particularly allegations of manipulation of figures. It argued that such concerns must be addressed before the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
According to the council, the removal of Amupitan has become necessary in view of the allegations and questions surrounding his leadership. It insisted that Nigerians deserve an electoral chairman whose integrity, neutrality and transparency are beyond question.
The council’s position represents a major challenge to INEC’s leadership, as its refusal to recognise elections conducted under Amupitan could further deepen public concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.
The development also raises fresh questions about confidence in the commission ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the council warning that an electoral process cannot command public acceptance when sections of the country have already rejected the leadership responsible for conducting it.
Nigeria’s electoral credibility depends heavily on public trust in INEC. The council believes that restoring that confidence must begin with addressing the allegations against the chairman and ensuring that the commission is led by someone widely regarded as independent, neutral and trustworthy.
