Sharia Council Calls for Removal of INEC Chairman Over Neutrality Concerns

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria has called for the removal of the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to doubts about his impartiality in overseeing elections. During the council's 2026 annual pre-Ramadan lecture in Abuja, Sheikh Bashir Umar expressed concerns about the Chairman's alleged involvement in a document linking him to issues like Christian genocide in Nigeria, which has raised suspicions and eroded public trust in the electoral process.

The council emphasized the importance of fair and just leadership to unite citizens and warned of increasing tensions and mistrust among voters under the current INEC leadership. They appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene promptly to safeguard national unity, democratic stability, and restore confidence in the electoral system.