The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has declared that it would not recognise elections conducted under conditions it considered compromised, warning that the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process must be protected, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was made known at the Council’s Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly, attended by Islamic scholars, traditional and community leaders, professionals, representatives of Islamic organisations and the media in Abuja on Wednesday.
The gathering featured remarks by the President of the Shariah Council, Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, and Madakin Zazzau, Mallam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru. Speaking at the event, the leader of the Council said public confidence in institutions, particularly those responsible for elections, was central to national stability, noting that democratic legitimacy could not exist without integrity.
“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 Islamic body 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.
“No election conducted under a cloud of compromised integrity can be recognised as credible,” the Council stated. Beyond electoral matters, the Shariah Council painted a grim picture of the state of the nation, describing Nigeria as facing worsening insecurity, economic hardship and declining public trust, with millions struggling under inflation, unemployment and rising costs of living.
“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,” Umar said. On insecurity and terrorism, the Council reiterated its condemnation of violence in all its forms, while calling for both effective security measures and peaceful reconciliation.
It noted that Muslim communities had been heavily 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.
The Council also rejected what it described as misleading and inflammatory 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 Shariah Council criticised aspects of Nigeria’s tax reform efforts, arguing that fiscal policies should not impose unjust hardship on ordinary Nigerians.