Bomba Dauda
The Christian Media Forum (CMF) has condemned the call by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, describing it as baseless, divisive, and dangerous to national unity.
In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, and National Secretary, Andrew Ibrahim Mshelia, the forum said the demand, reportedly based on the INEC chairman’s religious faith,
undermines Nigeria’s constitutional principles of fairness, inclusion, and freedom of religion.
The forum stressed that Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when public officials are evaluated on the basis of competence, integrity, and performance, rather than religious or ethnic affiliation.
It recalled that the Supreme Council for Shari’ah had reportedly stated that Muslims across the country would not recognise or legitimise any election conducted under the leadership of an INEC chairman whose integrity is allegedly in doubt.
Rejecting this position, the Christian Media Forum warned that such statements are capable of eroding public confidence in democratic institutions and inflaming religious sentiments.
The forum noted that the call for the removal of the INEC chairman was reportedly made by the President of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah, Sheikh Bashir Umar, during the Council’s 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Describing the timing and context of the statement as insensitive, the forum said it could generate unnecessary tension and instability across the country.
According to the statement, Nigeria is already facing severe challenges, including insecurity, economic hardship, and social instability, which require collective effort rather than divisive rhetoric.
The forum cautioned religious bodies, particularly those with large followings, against making pronouncements capable of promoting religious intolerance.
It further warned that no individual or group should attempt to “heat up the polity” at a time when national unity and peace are urgently needed, adding that it was too early and inappropriate for religious organisations to make statements that could undermine the credibility of future electoral processes.
The Christian Media Forum urged the Supreme Council for Shari’ah to instead channel its influence toward supporting government efforts to tackle insecurity and socio-economic challenges, especially in the northern part of the country.
It also called on Nigerians to disregard statements capable of inciting religious intolerance or threatening peaceful coexistence.
Reaffirming its confidence in INEC as a constitutional body mandated to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, the forum urged the commission’s leadership to remain focused on its core mandate without yielding to sectional pressure.
The forum emphasised that Nigeria belongs to all citizens regardless of faith, warning that leadership positions should not be politicised or weaponised along religious lines.
It therefore called on all religious and civic leaders to exercise restraint, promote tolerance, and work collectively toward a peaceful, stable, and democratic Nigeria.
