MURIC petitions National Assembly, demands removal of INEC chairman

By Lawrence Agbo

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has escalated its campaign against the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, by formally taking its petition to the National Assembly of Nigeria.

In a statement on Wednesday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, said the group is demanding the immediate removal of the electoral chief, accusing him of actions that undermine Nigerian Muslims’ confidence in the electoral body.

According to the group, the controversy centers on an 80-page legal brief on alleged Christian genocide, which was reportedly used by the United States in its assessment of Nigeria’s religious situation. MURIC claims the document painted Muslims in a negative light and contributed to international accusations against the country.

The group said it decided to approach lawmakers after repeated complaints to the presidency went unanswered.

“Since the presidency appears uninterested in listening to the complaints of Muslims against Amupitan, we must take his case to the court of the people’s representatives, the National Assembly,” the statement read.

MURIC emphasized that its campaign is not about religion but about what it calls “the fanatical, hateful and vicious approach” allegedly adopted by Amupitan towards Nigerian Muslims. The organisation warned that the issue could have wider implications for the credibility of future elections, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

MURIC urged the National Assembly to listen to the grievances of Muslim citizens and examine the allegations against the INEC chairman, Amupitan.

“The NASS has a moral duty to listen to the case of Nigerian Muslims against Amupitan. As law-abiding and peace-loving citizens, we have brought our case for adjudication,” the statement added.

The group reaffirmed its earlier call for Amupitan’s removal, insisting that a credible and impartial electoral body is essential for maintaining trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.