…Tasks INEC, Media, Parties on Credible 2027 Polls
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, has harped on trust, transparency and shared responsibilities as decisive factors for credibility of 2027 General Elections.
This was part of the resolution at the 10th GOCOP Annual Conference held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, on October 7 and 8, 2026, with theme: “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.”
The resolution was contained in a communique issued at end of the conference and signed by its President, Danlami Nmodu, mni, and General Secretary, Sufuyan Ojeifo.
The Conference was chaired by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, former President of Nigerian Bar Association while the Keynote address was delivered by Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN.
Panel of discussants comprised CP Abayomi Shogunle, PhD, Commissioner of Police, Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Prof. Tayo Popoola, Head, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos; Dr. Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, Creative Director, Gender Agenda and Founder, WEWE Network Afrique; and Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre, IPC, Nigeria.
Day One was devoted to capacity-building on newsroom sustainability, artificial intelligence in online publishing and monetisation of digital media, followed by Annual General Meeting while Day Two was public conference.
The Conference observed that trust is neither inherited nor conceded but earned through consistent, verifiable and transparent execution, and that public confidence in elections remains low, with only 38 per cent of Nigerians believing in credibility of elections.
It noted INEC has outlined substantial preparations, including structural, technological and logistical reforms, upgraded result-integrity systems, AI data-auditing tools and multi-layered cyber defences developed with Google and Microsoft, as well as expanded voter education including braille guides, tactile posters, sign-language support and local-language broadcasts.
It said with nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, commencing October 9, 2026, countdown to general elections has begun.
Communique further observed that media can make or mar elections, that law on reporting results remains unsettled between Section 60 of Electoral Act 2026 and Section 39 of 1999 Constitution, and that information disorder such as fake news, deepfakes and unverified leaks remains direct threat to polls.
It also noted commercial and ownership pressures distort coverage, electoral laws exclude many citizens by language, accountability remains weak as electoral offenders are seldom prosecuted, and inclusion of women remains largely performative.
In its resolutions, GOCOP urged INEC to match assurances with verifiable delivery, activate Digital Media Fact-Verification Channel, translate Electoral Act into major Nigerian languages and prosecute electoral offenders.
It welcomed three-point pact proposed by INEC on fact-verification, editorial self-regulation and voter education, and resolved that members shall publish only verified information, prioritise accuracy over speed and support voter education.
It urged National Assembly to enact legislation to increase women’s participation, Federal Government to provide clear account of fuel subsidy policy, political parties to conduct transparent primaries, security agencies to sustain intelligence-led non-partisan security, and citizens to collect PVCs, vote and verify information before sharing.
Conference affirmed that credible elections in 2027 are shared responsibility of INEC, security agencies, political actors, media and citizens, with GOCOP committing its 127 member publications to verified and responsible coverage.
