Adebayo Shittu, former Minister of Communications, has said he would introduce Sharia law in Oyo State if the people demand it, should he be elected governor in 2027.
Shittu made the remark during an interview on Naija Unfiltered, a podcast produced by Symfoni, where he was asked to react to ongoing debates about the possible introduction of Sharia law in parts of the South-West.
Responding to concerns raised by the interviewer, Shittu questioned how the institutionalisation of Sharia would negatively affect Christians, insisting that no one would be forced to live under Sharia against their will.
He dismissed opposition to the idea as religious intolerance, arguing that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and allows for the establishment of Sharia courts where communities demand them.
“If the people ask for it, I will introduce it. The constitution permits it whenever it is demanded. No Christian can be compelled to submit to Sharia in any community where it exists,” he said.
Shittu’s comments come amid renewed controversy over attempts to establish Sharia arbitration panels in South-West states. In late 2024, the Oyo State chapter of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria announced plans to set up a Sharia court, a move that triggered widespread backlash and was later suspended.
Nigeria operates a plural legal system that blends common law, customary law, and Islamic law, reflecting the country’s religious and cultural diversity. Several northern states already operate full or partial Sharia systems alongside other legal frameworks.
Recently, Shittu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 Oyo governorship election, describing himself as the most qualified aspirant for the position.