Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has said he accepted the role of leading Nigeria’s electoral body only after receiving “a clear divine conviction that God would strengthen and help him in office”.
Speaking in Abuja at an end-of-tenure thanksgiving service organised by the Nigerian Baptist Convention for its outgoing president, Israel Akanji, and his wife, Victoria, Amupitan said he would have turned down the appointment without that spiritual assurance.
“If I did not have the conviction for this job, I would not accept it,” he said.
Recounting how he decided to take up the position, the INEC chairman said he drew strength from “a clear message from God”.
“The Lord said, ‘Fear not; do not be dismayed. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you.’ I heard this clearly before I accepted this job,” Amupitan said.
He noted that this conviction has remained the foundation of his leadership at the commission, despite the challenges of conducting elections in a complex democratic environment.
According to him, divine guidance has sustained him since assuming office, stressing that no challenge is beyond God’s control.
“No matter the storm, no matter the difficulty, God is able to calm every storm. That is what God has been doing,” he said.
Amupitan also urged Nigerians to pray for the commission and the success of the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence that the polls could set a new standard.
“Continue to pray for Nigeria, continue to pray for us, and continue to pray for me that the 2027 election will be the best ever,” he said.
“I cannot do it on my own, but with the Lord on my side, it is possible, and it is doable.”
Reflecting on public service, he cautioned against taking up responsibilities without a sense of divine purpose.
“My experience so far as the INEC chairman is that if God does not send you somewhere, do not go there. If God does not send you, do not do it,” he said.
Amupitan’s remarks come as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, amid growing national discussions around electoral integrity, technology deployment, and voter confidence.
He was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in October 2025 to succeed Mahmood Yakubu, becoming the sixth substantive chairman of the commission.
His comments also come amid scrutiny over his leadership, including allegations linked to resurfaced social media posts suggesting sympathy for the ruling All Progressives Congress during the 2023 elections.
The controversy has raised concerns about the perceived neutrality of the electoral body, with some opposition figures and civil society groups calling for his resignation.
However, Amupitan has denied operating any such account, maintaining that he remains politically neutral, while the commission has dismissed the claims as attempts to discredit its leadership.
Earlier, the African Democratic Congress also called for his resignation over separate issues involving the party’s internal leadership dispute, further increasing pressure on the commission.
Against this backdrop, Amupitan’s emphasis on faith, divine guidance, and his pledge to deliver the “best ever” 2027 elections is being seen as both a personal conviction and a response to growing public concerns over trust in the electoral system.
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