The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Josiah Amupitan, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said the move is necessary to safeguard the credibility and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Chairman of MURIC’s Kano State chapter, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa.
In the statement, MURIC alleged that Prof. Amupitan’s past actions raise questions about his neutrality. The group referenced a legal brief reportedly authored by Amupitan in 2020 titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria: The Implications for the International Community.”
According to MURIC, the document, which they described as “hate-filled,” addressed allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria and was said to have been commissioned by international organisations. The group claimed the brief characterised attacks by Boko Haram and armed herdsmen as part of a coordinated anti-Christian campaign and described the situation as involving crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.
MURIC argued that these positions indicate what it called “glaring partisanship” and “apparent bias against Nigerian Muslims,” which it said could undermine public trust in INEC’s leadership if not addressed before the next general elections.
“Our position, therefore, is that the demand for Amupitan’s immediate removal, resignation, or prosecution is to protect and safeguard the credibility of the 2027 general elections,” the statement read.
The group warned that allowing the INEC chairman to remain in office without addressing the concerns raised could affect perceptions of neutrality in the conduct of future elections.
INEC has not yet publicly responded to the call, and there has been no official statement from the presidency regarding MURIC’s demand as of the time of reporting.
