Religious Council Raises Alarm Over INEC Chairman's Alleged Bias
The Supreme Council for Shari'ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has formally requested President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This dramatic development follows disturbing allegations about a controversial legal paper reportedly authored by Professor Amupitan in 2020 that the Council describes as divisive and containing anti-Muslim sentiments.
Controversial Paper Sparks Outrage
In an official statement released by Secretary General Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, the Council expressed deep concern over media reports detailing the content of Professor Amupitan's alleged legal brief. The document reportedly contains what the SCSN characterizes as provocative and historically distorted assertions about conflicts in Northern Nigeria and the legacy of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio's 19th-century jihad movement.
The Shari'ah Council strongly condemned the paper's content, describing it as toxic and unbecoming for an individual entrusted with overseeing Nigeria's democratic elections. According to their statement, if Professor Amupitan indeed authored the document, his views pose a serious threat to national unity and stability.
Historical Distortion and Electoral Implications
The Council took particular issue with how the alleged paper characterized violence in northern Nigeria. They objected to the portrayal of these conflicts as Christian genocide and the attempt to link contemporary security challenges to historical religious movements.
SCSN emphasized that Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio's jihad represented a spiritual and social reform movement focused on justice and ethical governance, not religious extermination as the paper allegedly suggested. The Council noted that both Muslim and Christian communities have suffered tremendously from violence across northern states including Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, and Yobe.
The statement raised serious questions about how someone with such alleged deep-seated religious prejudice could pass Nigeria's rigorous security clearance process for such a sensitive position. This development has sparked concerns about potential lapses in the appointment vetting system.
Call for Neutrality and National Unity
The Supreme Council for Shari'ah stressed that leadership of INEC demands the highest standards of neutrality and fairness. They warned that perceived bias at the commission's helm could severely damage public confidence in Nigeria's electoral system and future election outcomes.
In their concluding remarks, the Council appealed to all Nigerians to resist religious division and focus on addressing common challenges including injustice, corruption, poverty, and insecurity. They reaffirmed their commitment to national unity and the pursuit of truth based on mutual respect among all religious communities.
The controversy emerges following President Tinubu's appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as INEC chairman, which received approval from the National Council of State earlier this year.
