Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is expected to deliver the keynote address at the 10th annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
Gatekeepers News reports that the conference, themed “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities,” is scheduled to hold on October 8 in Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Monday by Kemi Yesufu, GOCOP publicity secretary, the guild said the event would bring stakeholders together to examine issues surrounding the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The conference will be chaired by Olisa Agbakoba, human rights advocate and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Olumide Iyanda, chairman of the conference planning committee and deputy president of GOCOP, said Amupitan’s selection as keynote speaker was significant as the country prepares for the 2027 elections, particularly amid increasing concerns about electoral credibility and public trust in institutions.
“The 2027 elections will be about more than what INEC does on election day. The credibility of the process will depend on the conduct of institutions, political parties and candidates, the media, civil society and the electorate. That is why we deliberately chose a theme that speaks to trust, transparency and shared responsibilities,” Iyanda said.
He said the conference would examine the responsibilities of electoral institutions, political parties and candidates, the media, civil society organisations and voters in ensuring credible elections.
Iyanda also expressed expectations that Amupitan’s address would provide insights into INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections and the challenges that could affect the electoral process.
“We expect his keynote address to provide important insight into the preparations for 2027, the challenges ahead and what other stakeholders must do to support a credible process,” he said.
According to Iyanda, the conference would also provide an opportunity for online publishers to deliberate on the media’s responsibility to provide accurate, fair and credible information as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
