Shari’ah council warns against compromised elections ahead of 2027 polls
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has warned that it will not recognise or legitimise any election conducted under what it described as compromised conditions, stressing that the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process must be protected ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The council made its position known on Thursday at its Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja, which drew Islamic scholars, traditional and community leaders, professionals, representatives of Islamic organisations and members of the media.
Speaking at the event, the President of the council, Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, said public confidence in democratic institutions, especially those responsible for elections, was central to national stability, adding that elections conducted without integrity could not command legitimacy.
“The council has clearly stated that the Ummah will not recognise or legitimise any election presided over by a character with questionable integrity, as democratic credibility must never be compromised,” Umar said.
The council expressed concern over developments surrounding the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that elections conducted under questionable circumstances would lack public trust and acceptance.
Beyond electoral issues, the Islamic body painted a grim picture of the state of the nation, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship and declining public trust. Umar said millions of Nigerians were grappling with inflation, unemployment and rising living costs, describing the country as being at a critical crossroads.
On insecurity and terrorism, the council reiterated its condemnation of violence in all forms and called for a combination of effective security measures and peaceful reconciliation. It noted that Muslim communities had been heavily affected by ongoing violence across the country, while stressing that every human life, regardless of religion, was sacred.
The council also rejected what it described as misleading and inflammatory narratives around religious violence, including claims of a “Christian genocide,” urging responsible public discourse to avoid deepening national divisions.
On economic governance, the Shari’ah council criticised aspects of Nigeria’s tax reform efforts, arguing that fiscal policies should not impose unjust hardship on ordinary citizens. It also raised concerns over budget implementation, mis-prioritisation and the underfunding of critical institutions in the 2025 and 2026 national budgets.
In addition, the council decried what it described as systemic imbalance in federal appointments, warning that such practices undermined constitutional equity and national cohesion.
On religious rights, the council reaffirmed that the implementation of Shari’ah remained a constitutional right of Muslims and applied only to them, while restating its commitment to peaceful coexistence in the country.
