The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has issued a strong warning ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that it will neither recognize nor legitimize any election conducted under compromised conditions.
The Council made its position known at its Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly held in Abuja, an event attended by Islamic scholars, traditional and community leaders, professionals, representatives of Islamic organisations, and the media.
Speaking at the gathering, the President of the Council, Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, stressed that public trust in electoral institutions—especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is vital to national stability. He noted that democratic legitimacy cannot exist without integrity.
According to him, the Council has resolved that the Muslim Ummah will not accept any election overseen by individuals whose integrity is questionable, warning that polls conducted under such circumstances would lack credibility and public confidence.
The Islamic body expressed concern over recent developments surrounding the leadership of INEC, cautioning that elections held under a cloud of integrity issues would fail to earn national trust.
Beyond electoral issues, the Sharia Council painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s current situation, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship, rising inflation, unemployment, and declining public trust in governance.
On insecurity and terrorism, the Council reiterated its total condemnation of violence in all forms while calling for effective security strategies alongside peaceful reconciliation. It noted that Muslim communities have been disproportionately affected by ongoing violence across the country.
The Council also dismissed what it described as misleading and inflammatory narratives around religious violence, including claims of a “Christian genocide,” urging responsible public discourse to prevent further division.
On economic governance, the Council criticized aspects of Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, insisting that fiscal policies must be fair, humane, and not place undue hardship on ordinary citizens. It also raised concerns about budget implementation, misplacement of priorities, and underfunding of key institutions in the 2025 and 2026 national budgets.
Additionally, the Council warned against what it described as systemic imbalance in federal appointments, saying such practices threaten constitutional fairness and national cohesion.
On religious rights, the Sharia Council reaffirmed that the implementation of Shari’ah is a constitutional right that applies only to Muslims, while reiterating its commitment to peaceful coexistence with people of other faiths.
The Council also condemned the ongoing war in Gaza, describing it as genocide, and decried what it called global silence over the suffering of Palestinians, while continuing to call for justice and humanitarian access.
In his remarks, Madakin Zazzau, Mallam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru, described the Sharia Council as a principled and courageous voice of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, noting its role in promoting justice, unity, and national stability.
As Ramadan approaches, the Council urged Islamic scholars to use Tafseer sessions to promote unity, moral reform, responsible civic engagement, and ethical leadership, emphasizing that Nigeria’s renewal must begin with moral responsibility.
2027 Elections
