The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) for the removal of Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bashir Umar, President of the SCSN, had made the call at the Council’s 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture on Tuesday in Abuja.
Umar said Amupitan’s position on allegations of Christian genocide “amounted to divisive propaganda and raised serious doubts about his impartiality as the head of the electoral body asked the INEC chairman to resign or be dismissed.
“The honourable thing is for him to resign. If he does not, the government should dismiss or retire him”, Umar was qouted to have said.
However, in a statement on Saturday in Kaduna, the PFN condemned such calls, saying the INEC chairman has the right to express his personal views on issues of national concern.
The statement signed by David Bakare, National Secretary of the PFN, condemned in every ramifications, suggestions for the removal of Amupitan.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment.
“We condemn in every ramification the suggestion that he should be removed from office on this basis”.
“This matter has nothing to do with his assignment. It has nothing to do with elections or any electoral activity, for which he is appointed. “He should not be punished for taking a position as a true Nigerian”, the statement said.
Bakare said Nigerians must begin to resist the temptation of interpreting people on the basis of their religious beliefs or positions. He argued that, “Amupitan has a right to bare his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job.
“PFN encourages all stakeholders to approach national discourse with restraint, understanding, and respect for the rights of others”, Bakare said.
He added that, “Matters of serious national concern should be addressed in a manner that promotes unity and peaceful coexistence.”
He said the PFN remains committed to the principles of fairness, justice, and mutual respect, and urged that these values should guide public engagement and responses on issues affecting the nation.
PFN rejects calls for removal of INEC chairman over genocide comments
