Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee, has mentioned he accepted the position of main Nigeria’s electoral physique solely after receiving “a transparent divine conviction that God would strengthen and assist him in workplace”.
Talking in Abuja at an end-of-tenure thanksgiving service organised by the Nigerian Baptist Conference for its outgoing president, Israel Akanji, and his spouse, Victoria, Amupitan mentioned he would have turned down the appointment with out that religious assurance.
“If I didn’t have the conviction for this job, I might not settle for it,” he mentioned.
Recounting how he determined to take up the place, the INEC chairman mentioned he drew energy from “a transparent message from God”.
“The Lord mentioned, ‘Concern not; don’t be dismayed. I’ll strengthen you; I’ll show you how to; I’ll uphold you.’ I heard this clearly earlier than I accepted this job,” Amupitan mentioned.
He famous that this conviction has remained the muse of his management on the fee, regardless of the challenges of conducting elections in a fancy democratic setting.
In accordance with him, divine steerage has sustained him since assuming workplace, stressing that no problem is past God’s management.
“Regardless of the storm, regardless of the problem, God is ready to calm each storm. That’s what God has been doing,” he mentioned.
Amupitan additionally urged Nigerians to wish for the fee and the success of the 2027 common elections, expressing confidence that the polls may set a brand new normal.
“Proceed to wish for Nigeria, proceed to wish for us, and proceed to wish for me that the 2027 election would be the greatest ever,” he mentioned.
“I can’t do it by myself, however with the Lord on my aspect, it’s potential, and it’s doable.”
Reflecting on public service, he cautioned towards taking on obligations with out a sense of divine function.
“My expertise as far as the INEC chairman is that if God doesn’t ship you someplace, don’t go there. If God doesn’t ship you, don’t do it,” he mentioned.
Amupitan’s remarks come as preparations for the 2027 elections collect momentum, amid rising nationwide discussions round electoral integrity, know-how deployment, and voter confidence.
He was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in October 2025 to succeed Mahmood Yakubu, changing into the sixth substantive chairman of the fee.
His feedback additionally come amid scrutiny over his management, together with allegations linked to resurfaced social media posts suggesting sympathy for the ruling All Progressives Congress through the 2023 elections.
The controversy has raised considerations in regards to the perceived neutrality of the electoral physique, with some opposition figures and civil society {groups} calling for his resignation.
Nevertheless, Amupitan has denied working any such account, sustaining that he stays politically impartial, whereas the fee has dismissed the claims as makes an attempt to discredit its management.
Earlier, the African Democratic Congress additionally referred to as for his resignation over separate points involving the celebration’s inside management dispute, additional growing stress on the fee.
In opposition to this backdrop, Amupitan’s emphasis on religion, divine steerage, and his pledge to ship the “greatest ever” 2027 elections is being seen as each a private conviction and a response to rising public considerations over belief within the electoral system.