Religion Must Not Define Electoral Leadership, Says Christian Media Forum, Faults Call for INEC Chairman’s Removal

 

The Christian Media Forum (CMF) has condemned recent calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, describing the demand as unconstitutional, divisive and capable of undermining national unity.

The Forum expressed grave concern over the reported statement, which allegedly questioned the legitimacy of elections conducted under the leadership of the INEC Chairman on religious grounds.

In a joint statement signed by its National President, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, and National Secretary, Andrew Ibrahim Mshelia, the CMF stated that Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when public officials are evaluated based on competence, integrity and performance, rather than religious or ethnic affiliation.

According to the Forum, the reported position of the Shari’ah Council—suggesting that Muslims may not recognise elections conducted under the current INEC leadership—poses a serious threat to democratic stability and peaceful coexistence.

The CMF warned that such utterances could erode public confidence in key democratic institutions and dangerously inflame religious sentiments in an already fragile national environment.

It recalled that the call was allegedly 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.

Describing the timing and context of the statement as insensitive, the Forum said Nigeria is currently grappling with grave challenges including insecurity, economic hardship and social tension, which demand unity rather than inflammatory rhetoric.

“No individual or group should attempt to heat up the polity at a time when peace and national cohesion are urgently required,” the statement read.

“It is too early and wholly inappropriate for any religious organisation to make pronouncements capable of casting doubt on the credibility of future electoral processes.”

The Forum further cautioned religious bodies with large followership to exercise restraint, noting that statements promoting intolerance or division could have far-reaching consequences.

It urged the Supreme Council for Shari’ah to channel its influence towards supporting efforts to address insecurity and socio-economic challenges, particularly in the northern part of the country.

Reaffirming its confidence in INEC as a constitutional body, the CMF called on the electoral umpire to remain focused on its mandate of delivering free, fair and credible elections, without yielding to pressure from sectional or religious interests.

The Forum stressed that Nigeria belongs to all citizens irrespective of faith, insisting that leadership positions must never be politicised or weaponised along religious lines.

It therefore called on religious and civic leaders to promote peace, tolerance and national unity, while urging Nigerians to disregard statements capable of inciting religious intolerance or threatening peaceful coexistence.