The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) has cautioned against politicising the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that threats of an election boycott along religious lines could heighten tensions and erode public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
The group was reacting to comments attributed to the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), which reportedly called for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and warned that Muslims would neither recognise nor legitimise elections conducted under his leadership.
In a statement signed by its Governing Council Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, and Chief Executive Officer, Bosun Emmanuel, the CSMN said the appointment of the INEC chairman remains the constitutional prerogative of the President in conjunction with the National Assembly.
The group urged religious bodies to exercise caution in public statements capable of worsening Nigeria’s already fragile political and security climate.
It argued that appointments into national institutions should be guided strictly by constitutional provisions and due process, rather than religious considerations or pressure.
Drawing historical parallels, the CSMN noted that former President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, appointed Prof. Attahiru Jega, a Muslim, as INEC chairman without religious backlash. Similarly, former President Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim, appointed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, also a Muslim, without threats of election boycott.
According to the group, the current objections to Amupitan’s appointment under President Bola Tinubu raise questions about whether the resistance is rooted more in identity than merit.
The CSMN further contended that the controversy surrounding Amupitan stemmed from a legal opinion he expressed as a private legal practitioner regarding reports of killings of Christians in parts of Nigeria.
It maintained that such an opinion should not be weaponised to question his neutrality as head of the electoral body.
“The matter for which Prof. Amupitan is being labelled a threat to democracy is rather trivial. That citizen gave a legal opinion in his capacity as a legal practitioner,” the statement said.
The group also cited examples of heads of federal institutions who had publicly expressed religious positions while in office without calls for their removal.
Beyond the immediate controversy, the CSMN called for a broader national conversation on constitutional reform, particularly concerning the status of Shari’ah within Nigeria’s legal framework.
It distinguished between Shari’ah personal law, which it said is constitutionally recognised, and Shari’ah criminal law, which it argued lacks clear constitutional backing and has contributed to tensions in parts of the country.
Quoting legal authorities, including Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Justice Mohammed Bello and Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), the group maintained that aspects of Shari’ah criminal law are inconsistent with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, especially regarding freedom of religion.
The CSMN urged religious leaders to channel their influence toward constructive engagement and constitutional reform, rather than pursuing actions capable of deepening sectarian divisions.
“Attempts to deepen religious imbalance when the country should be seeking healing and fairness will only drag it deeper into mutual suspicion and sectarian violence,” the statement added.
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