2027: Middle Belt groups tackle Sharia Council over threat to INEC, urge Tinubu to take action
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) and the Association of Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities (ASOMBEN) have advised President Bola Tinubu not to take the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN)’s call for the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, lightly, describing the statement as a direct threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.
The SCSN recently demanded the removal of the INEC chairman, warning that Muslims would not recognize the 2027 elections under his leadership, citing an alleged brief suggesting Christian genocide.
The National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, argued that the statement has the potential to undermine national unity and erode public trust in INEC ahead of the 2027 general election.
He warned that the Council’s position could exacerbate religious tensions in the country.
“The SCSN remark is an incitement and a threat to a very sensitive institution like INEC. The leader of the Council should be invited to clarify why such statements were made,” Pogu said.
He added: “By making such inflammatory statements, it implies they don’t belong to Nigeria. If that is the case, what America is calling for is right; let them have their own country. Those that they conquered before the British came, let them stay together. We have had enough of their threat. Nigeria belongs to all. They always think they can tele-guide the country and impose their will on the people. The end must come to such a threat.”
Pogu urged the government to enforce the nation’s laws against anyone making subversive remarks that could undermine national unity.
He warned that yielding to such threats would be an invitation to anarchy and lawlessness.
“I want to believe that the Council is issuing these threats to coerce INEC into doing its bidding. They feel they own Nigeria and can dictate what happens here. INEC is an independent body; it has its rules and should stick to them. It should not succumb to intimidation; that is their stock in trade,” he said.
Also weighing in, the National Chairman of ASOMBEN, Sule Kwasau, commended Professor Amupitan for his impartial approach, describing his recent statements about the country, particularly in the North, as factual and devoid of sentiment.
Kwasau emphasized that Amupitan’s appointment was merit-based and cannot be undermined by calls from any group. He called for the leadership of SCSN to be interrogated over their actions.
“The antics of some groups in the North are well-known. Whenever they find it difficult with the government of the day, they often resort to religion as a weapon to challenge established authority. Such sentiments have no place under the present government,” he said.
He further noted that those behind the call for Professor Amupitan’s resignation should be summoned for questioning.
“Others have held the same position in the past, and no one expressed religious sentiment. A council like this should rise above religion and focus on national unity. They need not fear since the president is a practising Muslim. They should be invited to explain their position and why they seek to cause insecurity, especially their claim that they would not agree. This happened during Jonathan’s time; they threatened to make the country ungovernable and indeed it was,” Kwasau said.
