MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)
هيئة حقوق المسلمين
Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence
14th
February, 2026
PRESS RELEASE:
INEC TIMETABLE
PRESUMES THERE ARE NO MUSLIMS IN NIGERIA – MURIC
Islamic
human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has rejected the 2027
election timetable which was released by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) yesterday, Friday, 13th February, 2026.
In a
statement issued on Saturday, 14th February, 2026, the Executive
Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, noted that INEC presumed that
there are no Muslims in Nigeria. He described the timetable as exclusive,
insensitive and provocative.
He spoke
further:
"INEC
Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan announced the timetable and schedule of 2027
elections at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, Friday, 13th February,
2027.
"According
to the timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections would take place
on 20th February 2027 while governorship and State Assembly polls
are scheduled for 6th March, 2027 ( https://www-vanguardngr-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2026/02/breaking-inec-releases-2027-election-timetable/amp/)
"Meanwhile
Ramadan is projected to start around 8th February, 2027 and end
about 10th March, 2027. This implies that all the election dates
fall within the holy month of Ramadan.
"This is not only audacious and
outrageous, it is exclusive, insensitive and provocative. It is equally
preposterous, atrocious and luciferous. MURIC strongly condemns this election
timetable. It came without brakes from the pit of jahannam.
"We
are shocked to our marrows that a body given the responsibility of drafting a
timetable for a national exercise in a pluralistic country like Nigeria will go
all out to produce a timetable that excludes the largest group in the
population (Nigerian Muslims) from the exercise.
"This
is the most anti-Muslim election timetable ever produced in the history of
elections in this country. It seeks to disenfranchise, ostracize and
alienate Muslims. Not only that, it also aims at causing the greatest
inconvenience possible for Nigerian Muslims. Most importantly, Amupitan's
election timetable is keen on making it impossible for Muslims to worship
Allah. This is religious persecution.
"It is either a manifestation of
high-level contempt for Muslims in the country or the highest degree of
ineptitude for INEC chairman not to have considered important religious events
in Nigeria while fixing dates of the election.
"There is also evidence of
failure to consult his predecessors. Administration is known to be a continuum
and wise successors often leverage on advice from their predecessors. Had
Amupitan sought the advice of his predecessors, they would have told him of the
need to avoid slating elections on days when important national events take
place.
"By
the way, were there no Muslims among members of INEC's election timetable
committee? Even if that is so, are there no Muslims among INEC staff at
headquarters? Were they not consulted? Or were their opinions jettisoned? This
is not inclusivity.
"The
implications of holding elections during fasting are dire and far-reaching. In
the first place, such an exercise endangers peaceful conduct of elections
because, as more than half of the population is on compulsory fasting, too many
hungry stomachs during election will mean too many angry voters. Afterall a
hungry man is known to be an angry man. We must consider the stress among
Muslim voters unless it is part of Amupitan's plot to disenfranchise the
Nigerian Muslim electorate. Weak from hunger and dehydrated, millions of
Muslims will prefer to stay at home.
"Secondly,
unless INEC intends to shut out all its Muslim staff, the exercise in Ramadan
will be a deliberate punishment for them. This is because election is a
rigorous exercise. Muslim staff of the electoral body who are fasting will not
be able to give their best.
"Thirdly,
this does not rule out the pain and agony among election observers, INEC ad
hoc staff, etc who are Muslims, and there must be Muslims among them unless
Amupitan intends to hire all these from the moon.
"Fourthly,
the role of security agencies in elections cannot be underestimated. Many of
them will be Muslims and they will also be fasting. Interestingly enough, the
role of security agents during election can be very tasking and they are
expected to mobilise in the early hours of the morning (as early as 1 am or 2
am). Their uniforms cannot transform them into disciples of Superman overnight.
Ceteris paribus, they are most likely to suffer acute fatigue before
noon if they are fasting.
"It is our sincere hope that
INEC will hearken to our tidings although we will be little surprised if our
cries are ignored. It is unfortunate that Muslim opinions do not matter
anymore in government circles otherwise Amupitan will not be in office today
after all the important Islamic organizations in the country have called for
his removal over his ignoble role in penning the legal brief that formed the
backbone of the fictitious Christian genocide and the attendant hullabaloo.
"It
is paradoxical that Aso Rock catches pneumonia when Boko Haram or ISIS coughs.
Some state governors start running helter-skelter and there is nothing they
will not do for terrorists when the latter spits terror. but appeals from law
abiding and peace-loving Islamic organisations, go unheeded.
"It
is hoped, however, that INEC will not learn the hard way. It is hoped that some
Muslim youths are not dreaming of #OccupyINECOffices nationwide over this
christianisation of 2027 election timetable. It is glaring that Amupitan's
election timetable presumes that there are no Muslims in Nigeria. Back to
sender, sir."
#INEC
#2027ElectionTimetable
#Ramadan
Professor
Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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