Author name: Umar Idris Shuaibu

The Senate on Wednesday passed the Electoral Act amendment bill following a five-hour clause-by-clause deliberation. The bill was the sole item on the order paper after a valedictory session held in honour of the late Okey Ezea. It was approved by the Committee of the Whole after lawmakers considered and adopted its 155 clauses. During the review, senators amended some provisions while retaining the majority of the clauses as originally proposed. Read Also: INEC Finalises Timetable for 2027 General Elections One of the key amendments reduced the timeline for the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish a notice of election from 360 days to 180 days. The Senate also ruled out the real-time transmission of election results but retained the provision allowing electronic transfer of results, as stipulated in the 2002 Electoral Act.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it has finalised the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, despite delays in the passage of the amended Electoral Act currently before the National Assembly. The Commission disclosed that while legislative action on the proposed amendments is still pending, it has completed internal preparations necessary to guide the conduct of the next general elections. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during an engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). According to him, INEC has already submitted its recommendations on the Electoral Act amendment to lawmakers and is now awaiting the outcome of the legislative process. Professor Amupitan explained that the timing of the amendment’s passage could necessitate adjustments to certain activities outlined in the election timetable, depending on when the new law is enacted. Read Also: APC is a Living Party, Ganduje Says as Kano Govt Joins Ruling Platform Shari’ah Council Clarifies Call for Removal, Prosecution of INEC Chairman Another Kano Commissioner Aligns With APC, Backs ‘Kano First’ Agenda “Some aspects of the timetable may require review based on the final provisions of the amended Electoral Act,” he said. He, however, assured stakeholders that the Commission remains fully committed to delivering a credible, transparent, and well-organised election in 2027. The INEC Chairman added that until the amended Electoral Act is passed and signed into law, the Commission will continue to discharge its duties strictly in accordance with the existing legal framework. He reiterated INEC’s readiness to adapt swiftly to any legal changes once the amendment process is concluded, stressing that preparations for the 2027 polls remain on course.

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has clarified its call for the removal and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, stressing that the position is not driven by religious considerations but by concerns over national unity, institutional integrity, and constitutional responsibility. In a press statement issued on Monday and signed by its Secretary-General, Malam Nafi’u Baba-Ahmad, the council said the decision followed resolutions reached during its Annual Pre-Ramadan Conference and General Assembly held on January 28, 2026, in Kaduna. According to the council, its earlier resolution generated widespread public reactions and was misconstrued by some individuals, prompting the need for clarification. The statement said the call for Prof. Amupitan’s removal was based on what the council described as grave concerns over his antecedents and certain public positions attributed to him, which it alleged could undermine the neutrality required of the head of Nigeria’s electoral body. The council emphasised that religion has never been a factor in the acceptance or rejection of electoral leadership in Nigeria, noting that most individuals who have headed the country’s electoral institutions since independence have been Christians. Read Also: Coups, Counter-Coups and the Cost to Nigeria Industrial Peace Restored in FCT Following Wike-Labour Talks APC is a Living Party, Ganduje Says as Kano Govt Joins Ruling Platform It stated that out of 13 chairmen who have led Nigeria’s electoral bodies, only two were Muslims, adding that Nigerian Muslims have never opposed any electoral chairman on religious grounds. However, SCSN expressed concern over a legal brief reportedly authored by Prof. Amupitan in 2020, which it alleged contained prejudicial assertions against Nigerian Muslims, the historical Caliphate, and Northern Nigeria. The council particularly faulted claims of “Christian genocide” and attempts to link present-day insecurity in Northern Nigeria to the 19th-century jihad led by Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio, describing such assertions as historically inaccurate and potentially destabilising. It further alleged that the presentation of such claims to foreign actors portrayed Nigeria negatively and could expose the country to external pressure based on what it described as false narratives. Rejecting claims of religious genocide, the council maintained that insecurity in Northern Nigeria is multi-dimensional, driven by terrorism, banditry, criminality, poverty, governance failures, and social injustice. It added that both Muslims and Christians have suffered from the violence, although available data, it claimed, showed Muslims constitute the majority of victims in several affected states. SCSN stressed that leadership of Nigeria’s electoral system requires the highest level of impartiality, credibility, and public trust, arguing that anyone accused of bias or misinformation should not preside over elections. The council also expressed concern that Prof. Amupitan had neither denied authorship of the alleged document nor issued any apology or retraction, noting that the Federal Government had reportedly been compelled to counter the claims at diplomatic and financial cost. According to the statement, the council believes such developments have caused reputational damage to Nigeria and may warrant constitutional and legal action where appropriate. SCSN reiterated that it does not oppose Christians occupying public office and reaffirmed its support for competent, fair, and inclusive leadership irrespective of religious affiliation. It also urged the Nigerian Christian community to resist divisive narratives, while reaffirming the Muslim community’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and the protection of the rights of all Nigerians.