Osun Election: Islamic Group Alleges Thousands Of Muslim Women Were Denied Voting Over Hijab | Sahara Reporters

MURIC, a Muslim civil liberties organisation, alleged that thousands of Muslim women were prevented from voting because of their hijab during the election.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of disenfranchising Muslim women who wore hijab during the Osun State governorship election held on Saturday.

MURIC, a Muslim civil liberties organisation, alleged that thousands of Muslim women were prevented from voting because of their hijab during the election.

The organisation made the allegation in a statement issued on Sunday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

According to Akintola, the alleged incidents were widespread across the state and amounted to coercion, humiliation and disenfranchisement of Muslim women.

“Thousands of Muslim women who wore hijab were disallowed from voting in the Osun gubernatorial election which took place yesterday, 15th August, 2026. The incident was widespread,” the statement said.

“It was targeted coercion, humiliation and disenfranchisement. A few weak and uninformed Muslim women in hijab were allowed only after surrendering by removing their hijab.”

MURIC blamed the alleged incidents on what it described as the failure of INEC leadership to properly educate its regular and ad hoc staff on freedom of religion.

“We strongly condemn this massive disenfranchisement. But we cannot but connect it to the failure of INEC leadership to properly educate and instruct its regular and ad hoc staff on freedom of religion,” Akintola said.

The organisation also accused INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, of lacking respect for Nigerian Muslims and called for his removal from office.

“This can only be targeted intimidation. The head of INEC himself has no respect for Nigerian Muslims and he had been enmeshed in the Christian genocide scandal over which he was accused of writing an 80-page legal brief which brought American soldiers to Nigeria,” Akintola alleged.

MURIC said it had evidence to support its claim, including a video showing a Muslim woman wearing hijab complaining that she had been prevented from voting because of her attire.

“We have concrete and incontrovertible evidence for our allegation. We have a video clip of an hijab-clad Muslim woman who complained bitterly about how she was disallowed from voting on account of hijab she wore,” Akintola said.

The organisation further alleged that the incidents could have affected the outcome of the election and warned that similar treatment could occur during the 2027 general elections.

“MURIC reiterates its call for the removal of Professor Joash Amupitan as head of INEC. We contend that the intimidation of Muslim women in hijab during yesterday’s election in Osun State had a direct impact on the outcome of the election,” it said.

“We warn that worse treatments are in the offing for Muslim voters throughout the country in the 2027 general elections.”

Akintola also called on the Federal Government to intervene, alleging that INEC officials were planning further restrictions on Muslim voters.

“We therefore alert the Federal Government (FG) over such plans by Amupitan and his team of Muslim haters. Nobody should blame Muslims if they react to the stripping of their women in public in future elections. No civilised society should encourage the public humiliation of women,” it said.

He concluded by holding INEC responsible for what MURIC described as a violation of the rights of Muslim women.

“We blame INEC for this violation of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslim women,” it said.

Meanwhile, the candidate of the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke, has been declared winner of the governorship election after securing 511,067 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the final result during the collation of results in Osun State on Sunday morning.

Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Oyebanji, who polled 444,815 votes.