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The Christian Media Forum has expressed concern over a recent call by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria demanding the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, on the basis of his religious faith.
The forum described the call as baseless, unfortunate and highly divisive, stating that such a demand undermines Nigeria’s constitutional principles of fairness, inclusion and religious freedom.
A statement jointly signed by the National President of the Christian Media Forum, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, and the National Secretary, Andrew Ibrahim Mshelia, said it believes that Nigeria’s democracy thrives when public office holders are assessed on the basis of competence, integrity and performance, rather than religious or ethnic affiliations.
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah was reported to have 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 question.
The forum strongly disagreed with this position, warning that such statements are capable of eroding public confidence in democratic institutions and inflaming religious sentiments.
It noted that the call for the removal of the INEC Chairman reportedly came from 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.
The forum said it finds the timing and context of the statement not only insensitive but ⁷also capable of generating unnecessary tension and chaos across the country.
According to the forum, Nigeria is already grappling with serious challenges, including insecurity, economic hardship and social instability, which require collective responsibility rather than divisive rhetoric.
The forum cautioned that statements capable of promoting religious intolerance should be avoided by respected religious bodies, especially those with wide followership and influence.
It stressed, “No individual or group should attempt to heat up the polity at a time when national unity and peace are urgently needed.
“It is too early and inappropriate for any religious organisation to begin making statements that could undermine the credibility of future electoral processes.”
The forum urged the Supreme Council for Shari’ah to channel the same energy and influence towards supporting the Federal Government in addressing insecurity and socio-economic challenges bedevilling the nation, the northern part in particular. It stressed its belief that religious leaders have a responsibility to promote peace, tolerance and national cohesion rather than actions that may deepen divisions.
The forum called on well-meaning Nigerians to disregard any calls or statements capable of inciting religious intolerance or threatening peaceful coexistence.
It reaffirmed its confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission as a constitutional body mandated to conduct free, fair and credible elections, and urged the leadership of INEC to remain focused on its core mandate without distraction or undue pressure from sectional interests.
The forum stated that Nigeria belongs to all citizens, irrespective of faith, and that leadership positions should never be politicised or weaponised along religious lines. It therefore called on all religious and civic leaders to exercise restraint, uphold national unity, and work collectively towards a peaceful, stable and democratic Nigeria.
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