Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, says he would have rejected his appointment by President Bola Tinubu without what he called “a clear divine conviction” to accept the role.
“If I did not have the conviction for this job, I would not accept it,” said Mr Amupitan, who was appointed as the head of Nigeria’s electoral umpire on October 23, 2025.
He spoke at an end-of-tenure and appreciation service held in Abuja on Wednesday in honour of the outgoing president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Israel Akanji, and his wife, Victoria.
Mr Amupitan said he accepted the role after reassurances from God that He would provide him with strength, courage, and support.
“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,” said Mr Amupitan.
He stated that his experience since becoming the INEC chair strengthened his belief in divine guidance while carrying out his duties.
“My experience so far as the INEC chairman is that if God does not send you somewhere, do not go there, including the ministry; if God does not send you, do not do it. I cannot do it on my own, but with God on my side, it is possible,” he said.
Mr Amupitan added that God had been helping him through “the storm” and “difficulties” in his role as the INEC chair.
He, however, urged more prayers for Nigeria, the electoral umpire, and himself to make the 2027 general election the best ever held in the country’s history.
“I cannot do it on my own, but with the Lord on my side, it is possible, and it is doable,” he stated.
Mr Amupitan’s remarks come amid calls from opposition parties and political groups for his removal as INEC chair over his alleged support for the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress.
While there have been allegations that the electoral body, under his leadership, manipulates processes to suppress the opposition and makes decisions in favour of the APC, calls for his removal intensified after his social media posts declaring support for Mr Tinubu’s election surfaced.
Mr Amupitan, using his X handle, @joashamupitan, had tweeted, “Victory is sure,” while responding to a post by APC national leader Dayo Israel, who announced APC’s victory at polling units during the 2023 polls.
Although the chairman denied the post, evidence confirmed that Mr Amupitan’s Yahoo Mail address and phone number were linked to the X account.
A coalition of youth groups in Sokoto, in collaboration with opposition political parties, protested at the INEC office on Wednesday and called on Mr Tinubu to sack Mr Amupitan over allegations that the commission was “undermining the democratic process.”
