The Supreme Council for Shari'ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Council expressed concern that his past writings could undermine public trust in Nigeria's electoral system.

The appeal came after reports surfaced that Prof. Amupitan authored a 2020 paper titled "Genocide in Nigeria – The Implications for the International Community," published by the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON). The document allegedly labeled the persistent insecurity in Northern Nigeria as "Christian genocide," a characterization that has sparked widespread criticism across religious lines.

In a statement issued on Friday, November 7, 2025 (16th Jumada al-Awwal 1447 AH), the SCSN described the report as "biased, misleading, and inflammatory." The Council warned that such views could deepen mistrust among Nigeria's diverse communities and questioned whether the author possesses the neutrality required to lead a sensitive national institution like INEC.

"If indeed the publication originated from Prof. Amupitan, it reflects a disturbing level of prejudice and selective judgment unbefitting of a national electoral umpire," the statement read. The Council maintained that fairness, objectivity, and moral uprightness are essential virtues for anyone occupying such a position.

The SCSN further condemned attempts to associate the historic Jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio with contemporary violence, calling it "a distortion of history and an insult to Islamic legacy." It clarified that the Jihad was a spiritual reform movement aimed at promoting justice, education, and good governance.

Finally, the Council urged President Tinubu to "review and possibly reverse" the appointment to safeguard electoral credibility and national harmony, while calling on Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and unite against corruption, poverty, and insecurity.

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