Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says he only accepted the role after receiving what he described as “a clear divine conviction that God would strengthen and help him in office”.

Speaking in Abuja during 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.

Reflecting on his decision to take up the position, the INEC chairman said he was guided by 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,” Amupitan said.

He noted that this conviction has continued to guide his leadership in the commission, despite the complexities and pressures involved in overseeing elections in Nigeria.

According to him, 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.

Amupitan also urged Nigerians to pray for the commission and the success of the 2027 general elections, expressing optimism that the polls could surpass previous exercises.

“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.”

Speaking more broadly on leadership and service, he cautioned against taking on 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 said.

His comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to intensify nationwide, with issues such as electoral transparency, technology use, and voter confidence already dominating public discourse.

Amupitan was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in October 2025 to replace Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended on October 7 of that year, making him the sixth substantive chairman of the commission.

He had earlier described his appointment as divinely ordained when he assumed office at the INEC headquarters shortly after being sworn in at the State House, a position he reiterated in his latest remarks.

Meanwhile, his leadership continues to attract scrutiny following recent controversies linked to alleged past social media activity suggesting sympathy for President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress during the 2023 elections.

The development has sparked concerns among opposition figures and civil society groups over the perceived neutrality of the electoral body ahead of the 2027 polls, with some calling for his resignation.

The controversy intensified after digital traces reportedly connected an X account, previously associated with Amupitan, to earlier partisan posts.