The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reiterated its demand for the immediate removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, citing alleged bigotry, lack of neutrality and actions it says could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
MURIC’s renewed call followed a similar position taken by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) at its 2026 Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja on January 28, 2026, where the council warned that Muslims across the country would not recognise elections conducted under Amupitan’s leadership.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 29, 2026, and signed by the Chairman of MURIC, Kano State Chapter, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa, the organisation said it fully aligned itself with SCSN’s stance, describing it as “noble, consistent, justifiable and objective.”
According to MURIC, it had earlier demanded Amupitan’s removal in two separate statements dated November 10 and November 24, 2025, over what it described as a “hate-filled legal brief” he authored in 2020 and submitted to authorities in the United States, alleging genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
The group recalled that other Islamic bodies, including the SCSN and the Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN), had previously raised similar concerns. It also referenced the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), which reportedly alleged a conflict of interest, claiming that Amupitan was part of the legal team for the ruling party during the 2023 presidential election petition.
MURIC specifically faulted an 80-page legal brief authored by Amupitan in 2020, titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria: The Implications for the International Community,” which argued that attacks by Boko Haram and armed herders amounted to a coordinated anti-Christian campaign. The document was later cited in international reports on religious freedom.
The organisation accused the INEC chairman of advancing a divisive narrative that contradicted the Federal Government’s consistent position dismissing allegations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
READ ALSO:
Anambra Group Launches Grassroots Structure for Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Drive
Nigerian’s Senate Outcry over U.S. Airstrike Breach of Sovereignty in Sokoto
MURIC warned that retaining Amupitan as INEC chairman would “largely erode the credibility and legitimacy” of future elections, insisting that his continued leadership could compromise public trust in the electoral process.
The group therefore called for Amupitan’s immediate removal, resignation, or prosecution, arguing that such action was necessary to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
About The Author
