February 27, 2026 | News
The Ndi Igbo Worldwide Union has issued a stark warning to Nigeria’s Federal Government, National Assembly, and Northern Islamic leadership, calling for the removal of Sharia criminal law from the Constitution or face the “inevitable breakup” of the country.
In a press release signed by President Benjamin I. Nwankwo and Secretary Chief Charles Edemuzo, the group stated that mounting tensions over Sharia criminal law have pushed Nigeria to an existential national crossroads.
“The time for ambiguity is over,” the union stressed, highlighting that recent opposition by Islamic authorities to calls for repealing Sharia exposes deep constitutional and political contradictions within the Nigerian state.
According to the group, the coexistence of dual legal systems—Sharia and common law—undermines national unity. “Two legal codes cannot coexist in a serious, modern nation,” the statement said, adding that attempts to impose a uniform legal system without constitutional restructuring are “a non-starter.”
The union directly addressed Northern leaders, urging them to make a definitive choice: “Either fully embrace an egalitarian common law society where all Nigerians are equal under the law, or exist as an exclusive Islamic enclave, sovereign and separate if they so choose.”
Describing the current arrangement as unsustainable, the group warned that Nigeria faces only two possible outcomes: a peaceful referendum creating a safe-haven in the East for persecuted Judeo-Christian citizens, or violent fragmentation.
Citing historical precedents, the union noted, “England once guaranteed sanctuary for Protestants fleeing Catholic persecution in France. Biafra can serve as a modern-day sanctuary for all citizens fleeing oppression in Northern Nigeria.”
The union emphasized that its statement should not be viewed as a threat, but as “a historical inevitability.” It urged lawmakers to act decisively, declaring, “The National Assembly stands at its moment of truth. Remove Sharia from the Constitution and preserve peace, or preside over the fracture of the Nigerian state. There is no middle ground.”
Referencing past incidents of insecurity and persecution, the group highlighted the lynching of Deborah Samuel, the kidnapping and forced enslavement of Leah Sharibu, among others, as evidence of ongoing threats to citizens.
Concluding with a sobering warning, the union said, “Nigeria has a choice. The clock is ticking. History will remember who acted and who failed.”
