Banner Online News

By Our Correspondent 

The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will deliver a brief talk on electoral integrity and democratic accountability at the 2026 Annual Conference and 6th Lecture Series of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, in Asaba.

The REC’s intervention will provide the electoral umpire’s perspective on the conference theme, “Democracy Under Pressure: Electoral Integrity, Security Challenges, and Media Accountability,” at a time when public confidence in elections, election security and responsible media reporting remain critical issues in Nigeria’s democratic process.

The conference will hold at David’s Event Centre, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Asaba, Delta State, beginning at 11:00 a.m., with Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour.

The REC’s participation is expected to enrich deliberations on the responsibilities of electoral authorities, security agencies and the media in ensuring credible elections, promoting transparency and strengthening public trust in democratic institutions.

The conference will also feature a panel discussion led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Professor Presly Ogheneruke Obukoadata; renowned journalist, Comrade Norbert Chiazor, PhD; and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Gladys Imegwu.

The three panellists will bring complementary perspectives from academia, journalism and law enforcement to discussions on the challenges confronting democratic governance and the measures required to protect electoral integrity.

Professor Obukoadata, a communication scholar and strategic communication expert, is expected to examine the role of the media in countering misinformation, promoting informed public discourse and holding public institutions accountable, particularly in an increasingly digital information environment.

He is a Professor of Brand, Strategic and Metacommunication at Southern Delta University, where he also serves as Dean of the Faculty of Communication Technology. His research interests include strategic communication, crisis communication, media ecology, artificial intelligence, development communication and public relations.

Chiazor, a distinguished journalist, writer and media administrator, is expected to contribute insights into media independence, professional ethics and the responsibility of journalists to provide accurate, verifiable information, especially during electoral periods.

A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Chiazor served from 2011 to 2017 and has held senior editorial positions in broadcasting. He publishes The Nigerian Post and currently serves as Executive Assistant on Media to Governor Oborevwori.

CSP Imegwu, Officer in Charge of Legal Matters at the Delta State Police Command, will bring a law enforcement and legal perspective to the discussion, particularly on election security, the protection of citizens’ rights and the need for impartial enforcement of the law.

Her participation is expected to highlight the importance of cooperation between security agencies and the media, responsible reporting of security incidents and respect for due process in safeguarding democratic stability.

The organisers said the conference would bring together media practitioners, communication scholars, security professionals, public officials and other stakeholders to examine the relationship between credible elections, public safety, responsible journalism and democratic accountability.

The theme also raises critical questions about how electoral authorities can build public confidence, how security agencies can protect voters and electoral processes, and how journalists and online publishers can combat misinformation without compromising their watchdog responsibility.

The conference is part of DOPF’s continuing engagement with issues affecting journalism, public communication, democratic governance and responsible media practice.

With the INEC REC’s planned intervention and the participation of experts from academia, journalism and policing, the Forum is expected to provide a platform for constructive dialogue on strengthening electoral credibility, improving institutional accountability and protecting public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.