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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Arewa Think Tank has opposed calls for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, warning that such demands risk deepening religious division and undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking on the development, the Convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, urged Nigerians to focus on the integrity of the electoral system rather than the religious affiliation of public office holders.
According to Yakubu, Nigeria’s current challenges demand unity and collective responsibility, not divisive rhetoric. “What Nigeria needs now is the integrity of the election. It’s not about the chairman of INEC being a Muslim or being a Christian. We should look at the integrity of the election, and we should stand in unity with this chairman so that he can do his job properly.”
Yakubu cautioned against introducing religious sentiments into the nation’s electoral process, stressing that such actions could further polarise the country at a time of widespread insecurity.
“We shouldn’t allow those who want to divide us through religion to gain leverage. We must be careful not to bring religion into our electoral system to avoid dividing the good people of this country,” he added.
Yakubu’s comments came amid rising controversy following renewed calls by the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) demanding the removal of the INEC Chairman ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The Council, led by its President, Sheikh Bashir Umar, warned that Muslims across the country would not recognise or legitimise any election conducted under Professor Amupitan’s leadership, citing alleged concerns over integrity and neutrality.
The position was reportedly made during the Council’s 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Yakubu noted that such statements could erode public confidence in democratic institutions and inflame religious tensions, particularly at a time when the country is grappling with insecurity, economic hardship and social instability.
Arewa Think Tank called on religious organisations and leaders to avoid rhetoric capable of promoting intolerance or heating up the polity, stressing that national unity and peace are urgently needed.
Arewa Think Tank reaffirmed its confidence in INEC as a constitutional body and urged its leadership to remain focused on its mandate of delivering free, fair and credible elections without undue pressure from sectional interests.
Similarly, the Arewa Think Tank maintained that Nigeria belongs to all citizens regardless of faith, and that leadership positions should not be politicised or weaponised along religious lines.
Yakubu appealed to Nigerians to resist divisive narratives and instead support institutions working to strengthen democracy, noting that unity remains the country’s greatest strength in the face of ongoing national challenges.
