Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has said he would introduce Sharia law in Oyo State if elected governor and if the people demand it, insisting that opposition to the idea is rooted in religious intolerance.

Shittu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a governorship aspirant ahead of the 2027 election, made the assertion during an interview on Naija Unfiltered, a podcast produced by Symfoni.

Reacting to ongoing debates over the proposed establishment of Sharia arbitration panels in the South-West, Shittu dismissed fears that the move would threaten Christians or infringe on their rights.

“How does Sharia law, if institutionalised, affect you as a Christian? How does it affect you negatively?” he asked during the interview.

When the interviewer raised concerns about alleged human rights abuses by Hisbah operatives in some northern states, Shittu countered by accusing critics of religious intolerance.

“The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. You are talking out of intolerance for religion,” he said.

Asked directly whether he would introduce Sharia law if elected governor of Oyo State, Shittu replied: “If the people ask for it. Even the Constitution says it should be established whenever it is demanded. It is open because the Constitution allows it. I don’t run away from battles.”

He maintained that Sharia law, where applicable, would not be imposed on non-Muslims.

“If there is Sharia in any community, no Christian can be forced to go under Sharia,” he said.

The Sharia debate gained prominence in December 2024 after the Oyo State chapter of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSIN) announced plans to establish Sharia courts in the state. The move sparked widespread backlash across the South-West, leading to the indefinite suspension of the initiative.

Nigeria operates a plural legal system, combining common law, customary law and Islamic (Sharia) law. While most northern states have incorporated Sharia into their legal frameworks, its application in the South-West has remained contentious.

Shittu recently declared his intention to contest the Oyo governorship seat, describing himself as the most qualified aspirant for the job.