MURIC Reiterates Call for Sack of INEC Chairman Over Alleged Bias

MURIC Reiterates Call for Sack of INEC Chairman Over Alleged Bias

Abuja, January 29, 2026 — The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a faith-based civil liberty organisation, has renewed its demand for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, alleging that his past public positions and professional engagements undermine the neutrality required to oversee the 2027 general elections.

In a press statement issued on Thursday by the Chairman of MURIC’s Kano State chapter, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa, the organisation said its latest call aligns with a similar position taken a day earlier by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN). The SCSN had reportedly warned that Muslims across the country would not recognise the legitimacy of elections conducted under Amupitan’s leadership.

MURIC stated that it had previously called for Amupitan’s removal in separate statements dated November 10 and November 24, 2025, citing concerns over an 80-page legal brief he authored in 2020. According to the organisation, the document, titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria: The Implications for the International Community,” characterised attacks by Boko Haram and armed groups described as “Fulani herdsmen” as a coordinated anti-Christian campaign.

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The group further alleged that the legal brief accused Nigerian authorities of failing in their constitutional responsibility to provide security and of deliberately avoiding the use of the term “genocide” to forestall international intervention. MURIC described these assertions as divisive and inconsistent with the Federal Government’s official position, which has repeatedly rejected claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

Beyond the 2020 publication, MURIC also referenced concerns earlier raised by other bodies, including the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria and the Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria. It added that the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) had alleged a potential conflict of interest, claiming that Amupitan was part of the legal team for the ruling party during the 2023 presidential election petition.

According to MURIC, these issues collectively cast doubt on Amupitan’s impartiality and could erode public confidence in the electoral process if he remains in office. The organisation argued that his continued leadership of INEC would undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the 2027 general elections.

MURIC therefore called on the Federal Government to effect Amupitan’s immediate removal, resignation, or prosecution, insisting that such action is necessary to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process and ensure public trust in future elections.

As of press time, neither INEC nor Professor Amupitan had issued an official response to the allegations.

MURIC Reiterates Call for Sack of INEC Chairman Over Alleged Bias