ABUJA – In a significant pre-election intervention, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has declared it will not recognise or legitimise the outcome of the 2027 general elections if they are conducted under conditions it deems compromised.
The Council issued the stern warning at its Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday. Its President, Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, stated that public confidence in electoral institutions is central to national stability and that democratic legitimacy cannot 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,” Sheikh Umar declared. He emphasised that “No election conducted under a cloud of compromised integrity can be recognised as credible.”
While not naming specific individuals, the Council expressed deep concern over developments surrounding the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), linking the body’s credibility directly to public acceptance of election results.
The SCSN also painted a grim picture of the nation’s state, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and declining public trust. It condemned violence, criticised fiscal policies it deemed unjust, and decried an “imbalance in federal appointments” it said undermines national cohesion.
The Council’s declaration adds a powerful religious and civic voice to the growing national discourse on electoral reforms and integrity ahead of the 2027 polls.
Read more on election preparedness: INEC Reaffirms Commitment to Transparent Voter Registration for 2027
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Disclaimer: This report details the official position of a major Islamic body on matters of national governance and elections. The views expressed are those of the Council as stated at its public assembly.
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