The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has declared that it will not recognise or legitimise elections conducted under circumstances it deems compromised, stressing the importance of integrity in safeguarding the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The announcement was made during the Council’s Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly in Abuja, attended by Islamic scholars, traditional leaders, professionals, representatives of Islamic organisations, and media personnel.
Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, President of the Shariah Council, emphasised that public confidence in institutions, particularly those overseeing elections, is central to national stability. “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,” he said.
The Council expressed concerns over the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that elections conducted under questionable circumstances would lack public trust. “No election conducted under a cloud of compromised integrity can be recognised as credible,” the Council stated.
Beyond electoral matters, Sheikh Umar painted a sobering picture of Nigeria’s challenges, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship, rising inflation, unemployment, and declining public trust. “Nigeria today stands at a critical crossroads. The nation is confronted by worsening insecurity, widespread loss of lives, economic hardship, erosion of public trust, and deep social anxiety,” he said.
The Council condemned all forms of violence and terrorism, noting that Muslim communities have been disproportionately affected. “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 reaffirming that every human life, Muslim or Christian, is sacred.
It also rejected misleading narratives around religious violence, urging responsible public discourse to avoid deepening divisions. “The Council firmly debunked and rejected misleading and inflammatory propaganda, including the so-called ‘Christian genocide’ narrative,” Umar said.
On economic governance, the Council criticised aspects of Nigeria’s tax reforms, budget implementation, and funding of critical institutions. “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 also raised concerns about systemic imbalance in federal appointments, warning that such practices undermine constitutional equity and national cohesion. “The imbalance in federal appointments raises serious moral, constitutional and national cohesion concerns,” he said.
On religious rights, the Shariah Council reaffirmed that Shari’ah implementation is a constitutional right for Muslims alone, while advocating peaceful coexistence. “Islam is Shariah, as there is no Islam without Shariah, and Muslims will not accept any constitutional amendment that falls short of granting Muslims their right,” the Council stated.
The Council further condemned the ongoing war in Gaza, describing it as genocide, and called for justice and humanitarian access for the Palestinian people.
Mallam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru, Madakin Zazzau, described the Shariah Council as a principled and courageous voice of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, promoting justice, unity, and national stability. The Council urged Islamic scholars to use upcoming Tafseer sessions to foster unity, moral reform, civic responsibility, and ethical leadership as part of national renewal.
