An influential Islamic body in Nigeria has called for the removal and prosecution of the country’s chief election official, warning that any polls conducted under his leadership would lack credibility, while also rejecting government tax reforms it says would deepen hardship for ordinary citizens.
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) made the demands on Wednesday during its 2026 pre-Ramadan lecture and general assembly in Abuja, attended by Islamic scholars and delegates from across the country.
In a keynote address themed “Nigeria’s future: Faith, justice and leadership”, the Council’s president, Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, of compromised integrity and religious bias.
Dr Umar cited a legal brief allegedly authored by Professor Amupitan which claimed the existence of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria an allegation the federal government has publicly dismissed. He said the stance placed the INEC chairman in direct conflict with the official position of the Nigerian state.
“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,” Dr Umar said.
He added that Nigeria required an electoral umpire whose neutrality was beyond question, insisting that Professor Amupitan should either resign voluntarily or be dismissed.
Alongside its electoral concerns, the Council also rejected proposed tax reforms, arguing that they would impose unjust hardship on Nigerians already facing economic strain. Dr Umar said fiscal policies must be equitable, humane and socially responsible.
The SCSN further criticised what it described as unconstitutional alterations to tax reform bills after their passage by both chambers of the National Assembly. It called on lawmakers to hold a public hearing and carry out a forensic review of all legislation passed since the inauguration of the current 10th Assembly.
The Council also condemned terrorism “in all its forms” and urged the Nigerian government to fulfil its constitutional duty to protect lives, combining security measures with peaceful reconciliation for affected communities.
It rejected what it termed “false and inflammatory propaganda” around claims of a Christian genocide, warning that such narratives could fuel division and instability. The body also opposed foreign interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, including the establishment of any foreign military bases, while reaffirming that the religious freedom of Nigerian Muslims is constitutionally guaranteed.
Speaking at the event, the Madakin Zazzau, Mallam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru, praised the Shari’ah Council for what he described as its long-standing role as a principled voice for Nigerian Muslims.
He said the Council had consistently engaged on national issues beyond religion, promoting unity, justice and peaceful coexistence while constructively engaging with government and wider society.
