Sharia Council of Nigeria Calls for Removal of INEC Chairman Over Alleged Bias

The Sharia Council of Nigeria (SCSN) has officially declared its opposition to the leadership of Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). During the council's 2026 annual pre-Ramadan lecture in Abuja, Sheikh Bashir Umar, the President of SCSN, criticized Amupitan's past actions, accusing him of bias and disqualifying him as an impartial judge in the democratic process.

Umar specifically mentioned allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria, which the federal government has dismissed. The council insists that Amupitan's continued presence at the helm of INEC poses a direct threat to the transparency of the 2027 general elections.

INEC sources have dismissed the council's demands, stating that the council's statements are merely attempts to gain public attention. Amupitan took office in October 2025, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu.