Christian leaders in northern Nigeria, operating under the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) across the 19 northern states and Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, have rejected calls for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan.
The northern CAN leadership said the demand, made by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), was an attempt to drag religion into politics and weaken a key national institution responsible for organising elections in Africa’s most populous country.
SCSN had earlier asked for Amupitan to be removed and prosecuted, citing a legal brief in which he reportedly acknowledged claims about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
In a related reaction, Christian clerics under the National Christian Alliance for Good Governance in Nigeria (NCAGG), also opposed the calls, describing them as undemocratic and poorly timed as Nigeria heads toward the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 29 January 2026, the Chairman of Northern CAN, Reverend Joseph Hayab, and the group’s Secretary General, Bishop Mohammed Naga, questioned the motive behind the campaign against the INEC chairman.
They asked who was sponsoring the demand and why a religious platform was being used to pursue what they described as political interests.
Okay News reports that Northern CAN warned that using religion to question the integrity of public office holders was dangerous and could worsen sectarian tensions in a country where religion and politics have often collided.
The group said Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has constitutional rights, including freedom of religion, and that raising concerns about challenges faced by one’s faith should not be treated as proof of bias or as grounds for disqualification from public service.
Northern CAN also argued that public office in Nigeria has previously been held by Muslims who were openly linked to religious causes, without facing the same kind of scrutiny now being directed at a Christian INEC chairman.
The group recalled that the two immediate past INEC chairmen were Muslims from northern Nigeria and cautioned against any narrative suggesting that leadership of the electoral body should be reserved for followers of a particular religion.
It insisted that competence should remain the standard for public office, not faith, and urged those behind the campaign to come forward openly rather than operating through a religious organisation.
Northern CAN commended Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointing a Christian as INEC chairman, describing it as a sign of inclusivity and national unity.
The association also pointed to the example of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who retained a northern Muslim as INEC chairman despite political pressure at the time, saying the precedent showed that the electoral body’s leadership should not be treated as a religious contest.
The northern CAN leadership advised the Shari’ah Council to clearly identify any individual or group behind the campaign against Amupitan, warning that religious bodies should not be used as cover for political intimidation or to pressure public officials.
It also urged the INEC chairman not to be distracted by the controversy, but to stay focused on his constitutional responsibility of conducting credible elections.
Beyond the immediate dispute, Northern CAN said it was worried about what it described as signs of a coordinated political agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group referenced comments attributed to Nigeria’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, suggesting that the governing All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Congress (APC), could lose elections if it abandons a Northern Muslim Muslim ticket for Tinubu’s re election bid.
Northern CAN said that when such comments are viewed alongside continued attacks on a Christian INEC chairman, they raise concerns about whether there is a broader effort to weaken Christian confidence and participation in Nigeria’s political process.
The group warned against framing Nigeria’s political future mainly along religious lines, stressing that democracy should be guided by competence, fairness and national cohesion rather than sectarian calculations.
Meanwhile, NCAGG’s National President, Dean Reverend Ozumba Nicodemus, also issued a statement on Thursday, 29 January 2026, rejecting the call for Amupitan’s removal.
“We view this position as undemocratic and lacking a substantive basis,” Ozumba said.
“Utilizing your esteemed platform to call for such drastic measures can create unnecessary division among the peace loving citizens of our nation,” he added.
Ozumba said the group believed Amupitan’s experience as a constitutional lawyer would help strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.
“We firmly believe that his wealth of experience as a constitutional lawyer will significantly contribute to strengthening our electoral processes,” he said.
He also stressed that the integrity and independence of INEC must be protected, and that the electoral commission should be allowed to work without pressure from any group.
“The integrity and independence of INEC must be upheld, ensuring that it is allowed to function without undue influence or pressure from any group,” Ozumba said.
He urged the Shari’ah Council to reconsider its stance and support what he described as a collaborative approach that protects democratic values.
“We urge the Council to reconsider its stance and support a collaborative approach that upholds the democratic values we all cherish,” he added.
