AMUPITAN SAYS HE CONSULTED GOD BEFORE ACCEPTING INEC JOB
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said he accepted the appointment only after what he described as a strong spiritual assurance that God would guide and strengthen him in the role.
Speaking in Abuja at an end-of-tenure thanksgiving service organised by the Nigerian Baptist Convention in honour of its outgoing President, Israel Akanji, and his wife Victoria, Amupitan said he would have declined the job without that conviction.
He stated, “If I did not have the conviction for this job, I would not accept it.”
Reflecting on his decision to accept the role, the INEC Chairman said he was inspired by what he described as a direct message from God.
He quoted the message as saying, “Fear not; do not be dismayed. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you,” adding that he clearly heard this before agreeing to take up the position.
Amupitan said this conviction has continued to guide his leadership at the commission, despite the challenges and pressures associated with conducting elections in Nigeria.
He further noted that divine direction 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.
He also called on Nigerians to pray for the commission and for the success of the 2027 general elections, expressing hope that the polls would be better than previous ones.
“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 achievable,” he said.
Speaking more broadly on leadership and public service, he warned against accepting responsibilities without a clear sense of divine direction.
“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 stated.
His remarks come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum across the country, with discussions around electoral transparency, technology adoption, and voter confidence already dominating public debate.
Amupitan was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in October 2025 to succeed Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended on October 7 that year, making him the sixth substantive chairman of the commission.
He had earlier described his appointment as divinely guided when he assumed office at the INEC headquarters shortly after his swearing-in at the State House, a position he reaffirmed in his latest comments.
Meanwhile, his leadership has continued to face scrutiny following recent controversies tied to alleged past social media activity suggesting support for President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress during the 2023 elections.
The issue has raised concerns among opposition figures and civil society organisations about the perceived neutrality of the electoral body ahead of the 2027 polls, with some calling for his resignation.
The controversy deepened after digital traces were said to link an X account previously associated with Amupitan to earlier politically partisan posts.
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