The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has warned that it will neither recognise nor legitimise elections conducted under compromised conditions, insisting that the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process must be safeguarded ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was unveiled at the Council’s Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja, which drew Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, community leaders, professionals, representatives of Islamic organisations and members of the media.
Speaking at the gathering, the President of the Council, Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, stressed that public confidence in democratic institutions—particularly electoral bodies—was fundamental to national stability.
“The Ummah will not recognise or legitimise any election presided over by a character with questionable integrity. Democratic credibility must never be compromised,” Umar declared.
The Council expressed concern over developments surrounding the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that elections conducted under questionable circumstances would inevitably lack public trust.
“No election conducted under a cloud of compromised integrity can be recognised as credible,” the Council stated.
Beyond electoral issues, the Islamic body painted a bleak picture of the country’s current state, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship and declining public trust. It noted that millions of Nigerians were grappling with inflation, unemployment and the rising cost of living.
“Nigeria today stands at a critical crossroads, confronted by worsening insecurity, widespread loss of lives, economic hardship, erosion of public trust and deep social anxiety,” Umar said.
On insecurity and terrorism, the Council reiterated its condemnation of violence in all forms, while calling for a dual approach of effective security measures and peaceful reconciliation. It noted that Muslim communities had been disproportionately affected by ongoing violence across the country.
“The Council has provided irrefutable evidential data demonstrating that Muslim communities constitute a disproportionate number of victims in the ongoing insecurity and terrorism across Nigeria,” Umar said, while emphasising that every human life—Muslim or Christian—is sacred and inviolable.
The Council also rejected what it described as misleading and inflammatory narratives around religious violence, warning that such rhetoric only deepens national divisions.
“The Council firmly debunks and rejects misleading propaganda, including the so-called ‘Christian genocide’ narrative,” Umar stated.
On economic governance, the Shari’ah Council criticised aspects of Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, arguing that fiscal policies should not impose unjust hardship on ordinary citizens. It also raised concerns about budget implementation, mis-prioritisation and the underfunding of critical institutions in the 2025 and 2026 national budgets.
“The Council firmly opposes any tax reform that imposes unjust hardship on ordinary Nigerians and insists that all fiscal policies must be equitable, humane and socially responsible,” Umar said.
The Council further decried what it described as systemic imbalance in federal appointments, warning that such practices undermined constitutional equity and national cohesion.
“The imbalance in federal appointments raises serious moral, constitutional and national cohesion concerns,” Umar added.
On religious rights, the Council reaffirmed that the implementation of Shari’ah was a constitutional right of Muslims and applied only to them, while reiterating its commitment to peaceful coexistence.
“Islam is Shari’ah, and Muslims will not accept any constitutional amendment that falls short of granting them this right,” the Council stated.
Internationally, the Council condemned the ongoing war in Gaza, describing it as genocide, and criticised what it termed a global conspiracy of silence over the suffering of the Palestinian people, while calling for justice and unhindered humanitarian access.
In his remarks, Madakin Zazzau, Mallam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru, described the Shari’ah Council as a principled and courageous voice of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, noting its role in promoting justice, unity and national stability.
“In a plural and complex country like Nigeria, such a body is not only desirable but indispensable,” Ja’afaru said.
As Ramadan approaches, the Council urged Islamic scholars to use Tafseer sessions to promote unity, moral reform, responsible civic engagement and ethical leadership, stressing that national renewal must be anchored on moral responsibility.
