Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has said he accepted the responsibility of leading Nigeria’s electoral body only after receiving what he described as a clear divine conviction.
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 declined the appointment without that spiritual assurance.
“If I did not have the conviction for this job, I would not accept it,” he said.
Recounting his decision, Amupitan explained that he drew strength from what he described as a direct 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,” he said.
He noted that this conviction has remained central to his leadership despite the complexities of managing elections in Nigeria.
“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 added.
“I cannot do it on my own, but with the Lord on my side, it is possible, and it is doable.”
Reflecting on his experience in public service, Amupitan cautioned against taking on responsibilities without a sense of 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 was appointed by Bola Tinubu in October 2025 to succeed Mahmood Yakubu, becoming the sixth substantive chairman of the commission.
His remarks come as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, amid ongoing national conversations about electoral transparency, technology deployment, and voter confidence.
