The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has firmly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made concerning genocide.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN described the demand as unjustified and dangerous to democratic freedoms. The Fellowship maintained that Prof. Amupitan, like every Nigerian citizen, has a constitutional right to freely express opinions on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in a personal capacity and had no connection to his official responsibilities or the conduct of elections. The group stressed that electoral processes or INEC activities were not involved in the issue, making the call for his removal inappropriate.
“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,” the statement read.
The Fellowship condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that Amupitan should be removed from office over personal opinions expressed outside his official duties. It warned that such actions could set a dangerous precedent where public officials are punished for exercising their fundamental rights.
PFN also cautioned against the increasing tendency to interpret national issues strictly through religious perspectives, noting that such approaches fuel division and threaten peaceful coexistence. It emphasized that Nigeria’s diversity demands tolerance, restraint and mutual respect in addressing sensitive national matters.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the statement added.
The Fellowship called on all stakeholders to promote unity, fairness and constructive dialogue, stressing that peace and national cohesion must remain paramount in public discourse.
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