The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute electoral offenders, strengthen transparency in election management and establish a digital fact-verification channel ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Guild also called on the National Assembly to enact legislation that would increase women’s participation and representation in the electoral process, warning that opaque candidate-selection arrangements by political parties could further reduce the number of women elected in 2027.
These were among the resolutions contained in a communiqué issued at the end of GOCOP’s 10th Annual Conference, held on October 7 and 8, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The conference, themed “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities,” brought together media executives, publishers, policymakers, academics, security officials, civil society leaders and other stakeholders to examine the responsibilities of institutions, the media and citizens in ensuring credible elections.
The communiqué, signed by GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, mni, and General Secretary, Sufuyan Ojeifo, was issued in Lagos on October 10.
The conference was chaired by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, while INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, delivered the keynote address.
It noted that public confidence in elections remained low, citing a survey presented at the conference which indicated that only 38 per cent of Nigerians believed in the credibility of elections.
According to the Guild, restoring public confidence would require more than technological innovations, stressing that the electoral commission must demonstrate institutional credibility through consistent, transparent and verifiable performance.
“Trust is the decisive issue of the 2027 General Elections. It is neither inherited nor conceded; it is earned through consistent, verifiable and transparent execution,” the communiqué stated.
The Guild acknowledged INEC’s preparations for the elections, including structural, technological and logistical reforms, upgraded result-integrity systems, artificial intelligence-powered data-auditing tools and multi-layered cybersecurity measures developed in collaboration with technology companies, including Google and Microsoft.
However, it insisted that the commission must match its assurances with verifiable results by publishing timely and accessible information on election logistics, technology testing and result-management procedures.
GOCOP specifically urged INEC to immediately activate its proposed Digital Media Fact-Verification Channel to enable editors to confirm reports from polling units, security incidents and technical challenges before publishing them.
The Guild said such a platform would help media organisations distinguish verified information from rumours and misleading claims during the electoral process.
PVC collection, voter education
With nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) scheduled to commence on October 9, 2026, the conference urged Nigerians to collect their cards, participate in the elections and hold political officeholders accountable.
It also called on INEC to intensify voter education by providing accurate information about PVC collection centres, operating hours and collection requirements.
The communiqué acknowledged the commission’s efforts to expand voter education through women and youth-focused initiatives, braille ballot guides, tactile posters, sign-language support for persons with disabilities, and local-language broadcasts and town hall meetings targeting rural and riverine communities.
Nevertheless, it expressed concern that Nigeria’s electoral laws and guidelines remained largely inaccessible to citizens who could not read or understand English.
With approximately 250 ethnic groups in the country, GOCOP urged INEC to translate the Electoral Act, relevant regulations and voter education materials into major Nigerian languages while sustaining accessible formats for persons with disabilities.
The Guild maintained that electoral information must reach citizens across linguistic, geographical and physical barriers if participation in the electoral process is to be broadened.
GOCOP warns against AI deepfakes, misinformation
The conference identified fake news, unverified leaks, synthetic media and artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes as major threats to the credibility of the 2027 elections.
It warned that information disorder could inflame political divisions, mislead voters and discourage citizens from participating in elections.
The Guild observed that retractions often failed to reverse the damage caused by false information after it had circulated widely.
It therefore directed its members to publish only verified election information, warning against the publication of unverified polling-unit results, altered result sheets and inflammatory speculation.
According to the communiqué, any breach of the Guild’s standards would attract sanctions under its code of conduct.
The conference also cautioned online publishers against allowing the commercial pressures of digital journalism to undermine professional standards.
It noted that the pursuit of clicks, audience traffic and rapid publication could encourage sensationalism at the expense of accuracy, while proprietorial interests and partisan affiliations could compromise independent election reporting.
The Guild consequently urged its members to prioritise accuracy over speed, reject clickbait and insulate election coverage from political and commercial interference.
It further advised journalists to report operational delays in their proper context and with official verification rather than present such incidents as automatic evidence of a systemic collapse.
While acknowledging the media’s critical role in elections, the conference stressed that journalists must balance their constitutional freedoms with the responsibility to verify information before disseminating it.
“The media can make or mar the elections. Objectivity is therefore a national obligation,” the communiqué stated.
Electoral law and media freedom
GOCOP called for a judicial interpretation of Section 60 of the Electoral Act 2026 in relation to Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information.
The conference observed that the legal position concerning media coverage of exit polls, projections and independently compiled election results remained unsettled.
It therefore urged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), GOCOP and other media organisations to seek judicial clarification on the scope of permissible election reporting under the two provisions.
The Guild stressed that although freedom of information was essential to democratic accountability, it did not remove the obligation of journalists to verify their reports.
It also called on INEC to work with relevant prosecuting authorities to ensure that electoral offenders were prosecuted and the outcomes of such cases made public.
The communiqué expressed concern that the infrequent prosecution of electoral offenders had weakened accountability and emboldened impunity.
It urged authorities to ensure that violations of electoral laws attracted appropriate legal consequences, regardless of the identities or political affiliations of those involved.
*Women, political parties urged to promote inclusion*
The conference expressed concern over what it described as largely performative efforts to promote women’s inclusion in Nigeria’s electoral process.
It observed that opaque consensus arrangements used by political parties to select candidates systematically excluded women from opportunities to contest elections.
The Guild warned that prevailing political trends could result in fewer women being elected in 2027 unless deliberate measures were taken to address the situation.
It called on the National Assembly to enact legislation designed to increase women’s participation and representation throughout the electoral process.
Political parties were also urged to adopt open, transparent and inclusive candidate-selection procedures and abandon practices that restricted women’s access to elective offices.
The conference maintained that democratic representation would remain incomplete without deliberate efforts to ensure that women had meaningful opportunities to participate in political leadership.
Cost of living, fuel subsidy dominate voter concerns
The rising cost of living was identified as the leading issue likely to influence voters’ decisions in the 2027 elections.
However, the conference expressed concern that conflicting narratives surrounding fuel subsidy removal had left voters uncertain about the positions of political parties and candidates.
It called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to provide a clear and authoritative explanation of the country’s fuel subsidy policy and domestic crude oil pricing arrangements.
The communiqué also referenced Executive Order 9 concerning NNPC Limited and the argument that Nigerians should be able to purchase domestically produced crude oil at prices lower than those paid by external buyers.
The Guild said voters needed reliable information on these economic issues to assess the policies and promises of candidates before making electoral choices.
It urged political parties and candidates to focus their campaigns on issues affecting citizens’ welfare, particularly the cost of living, and avoid disinformation, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric.
In his welcome address, GOCOP President Nmodu had urged politicians to put the people first and ensure that government policies improved their welfare.
He also charged journalists to hold both the government and opposition accountable through accurate, fair, balanced and objective reporting.
Police report improved election security
The conference acknowledged reported improvements in election security, noting the Nigeria Police Force’s account of relatively peaceful polls since February 2026, with no shootings recorded during the elections referenced.
The improvement was attributed to intelligence-led operations.
However, GOCOP urged the police and other security agencies to sustain lawful, non-partisan and intelligence-driven security arrangements throughout the 2027 electoral cycle.
The Guild emphasised that security agencies had a responsibility to protect voters, electoral officials and other stakeholders without favouring any political party or candidate.
It also stressed that a peaceful electoral environment was essential to encouraging citizens to exercise their voting rights without intimidation or fear.
GOCOP cites Botswana’s democratic transition
The communiqué described elections as national infrastructure that must be protected through credible institutions, public trust and shared responsibility.
It cited Botswana’s 2024 political transition, during which the Botswana Democratic Party lost power after 58 years, as an example of what trusted electoral institutions could make possible in Africa.
The conference argued that citizens were shareholders in Nigeria’s democratic process but observed that many abstained from voting and subsequently protested against the outcome of governance.
It urged Nigerians to participate actively in elections, obtain their PVCs and clearly define what they expected their elected representatives to deliver.
Citizens were also encouraged to verify information before sharing it and to hold institutions and public officeholders accountable throughout the electoral cycle.
GOCOP pledges responsible election coverage
The Guild welcomed a three-point pact proposed by INEC on fact-verification, editorial self-regulation and voter education, saying its Executive Council would engage the commission on implementation without compromising editorial independence.
It also called on the government to sustain its partnership with GOCOP and the Nigerian Press Organisation to safeguard the media and protect the interests of publishers and journalists in the digital age.
GOCOP, which comprises 127 member publications, reaffirmed its commitment to fair, accurate and responsible reporting before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
The conference concluded that credible elections could not be achieved by INEC alone but required cooperation among electoral authorities, security agencies, political parties, candidates, the media and citizens.
“The conference affirmed that credible elections in 2027 are a shared responsibility of INEC, security agencies, political actors, the media and citizens,” the communiqué stated.
The Guild expressed appreciation to the keynote speaker, the conference chairman, the Governor of Imo State, the panellists and partners in the public and private sectors for their contributions and support towards sustaining the annual conference over the past decade.
Other panellists at the conference were the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Abayomi Shogunle, PhD; Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Prof. Tayo Popoola; Creative Director of Gender Agenda and founder of WEWE Network Afrique, Dr. Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack; and Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade.
The first day of the conference featured capacity-building sessions on newsroom sustainability, artificial intelligence in online publishing and digital media monetisation, followed by the Guild’s Annual General Meeting. The second day was devoted to the public conference.
Read the full communique below:
*COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 10TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE GUILD OF CORPORATE ONLINE PUBLISHERS (GOCOP)*
*Held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos | 7-8 October, 2026*
*PREAMBLE*
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) held its 10th Annual Conference on October 7 and 8, 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, with the theme: *”2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.”*
The conference was chaired by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. The keynote address was delivered by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN.
The 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 for members on newsroom sustainability, artificial intelligence in online publishing and monetisation of digital media, followed by the Guild’s Annual General Meeting. Day Two was the public conference attended by publishers, media executives, policymakers, academics, security officials, civil society leaders and partners.
In his welcome address, the President of GOCOP, Danlami Nmodu, mni, urged politicians to put the people first and ensure government policies improve citizens’ welfare. He charged journalists to hold government and opposition accountable through accurate, fair, balanced and objective reporting, and called on government to sustain partnership with GOCOP and the Nigerian Press Organisation to safeguard the media and protect the interests of publishers and journalists in the digital age.
After exhaustive deliberations, the conference observed and resolved as follows:
*OBSERVATIONS*
1. Trust is the decisive issue of the 2027 General Elections. It is neither inherited nor conceded; it is earned through consistent, verifiable and transparent execution.
2. Public confidence in elections remains low. A survey cited at the conference showed only 38 per cent of Nigerians believe in the credibility of elections. Technology cannot substitute for institutional credibility.
3. 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 partners including Google and Microsoft.
4. INEC has expanded voter education to include women and youth, braille ballot guides, tactile posters, sign-language support for persons with disabilities, and local-language broadcasts and town halls for rural and riverine communities.
5. With nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) commencing on October 9, 2026, the countdown to the general elections has begun.
6. The media can make or mar the elections. Objectivity is therefore a national obligation. The media cannot be gagged and will report what happens, including any malpractice.
7. The law on reporting results remains unsettled. Section 60 of the Electoral Act 2026 governs announcement of results by INEC, while Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom to receive and impart information. How both apply to exit polls, projections and independent tallies is yet to be judicially determined.
8. No right is absolute. Freedom to disseminate information carries a duty to verify first.
9. Information disorder — fake news, unverified leaks, synthetic media and AI-generated deepfakes — is a direct threat to the polls. It inflames division and depresses turnout, and retractions rarely repair the damage.
10. Commercial and ownership pressures distort coverage. Clickbait economics rewards speed over accuracy, while proprietorial interests compromise election reporting.
11. Electoral laws exclude many citizens by language. With about 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria still publishes electoral laws and guidelines only in English.
12. Election security has improved. The Nigeria Police Force reported relatively peaceful polls since February 2026 with no shootings, attributing this to intelligence-led operations.
13. Accountability remains weak. Electoral offenders are seldom prosecuted, emboldening impunity.
14. Inclusion of women remains largely performative. Opaque consensus arrangements in candidate selection systematically exclude women, and current trends suggest fewer women may be elected in 2027.
15. Citizens are shareholders in Nigeria. Yet many abstain on election day and protest afterwards.
16. The cost of living is the leading issue on the ballot, but conflicting narratives on fuel subsidy removal have left voters unclear about candidates’ positions. The conference noted Executive Order 9 on NNPC Limited and the argument that Nigerian crude should cost Nigerians less than external buyers.
17. Elections are national infrastructure. Botswana’s 2024 transition, where the Botswana Democratic Party handed over power after 58 years, shows what trusted institutions make possible in Africa.
*RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS*
*A. To the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC):*
i. Match assurances with verifiable delivery by publishing clear, timely information on logistics, technology tests and result management at every stage.
ii. Immediately activate the proposed Digital Media Fact-Verification Channel to give editors real-time access to confirm field reports, security incidents and technical issues before publication.
iii. Translate the Electoral Act, regulations and voter guidelines into major Nigerian languages and sustain accessible formats for persons with disabilities.
iv. Work with prosecuting authorities to prosecute electoral offenders and make outcomes public.
*B. To GOCOP Members and the Wider Media:*
i. The Guild welcomes the three-point pact proposed by INEC on fact-verification, editorial self-regulation and voter education. The Executive Council will engage INEC on implementation without prejudice to editorial independence.
ii. Members shall publish only verified election information. Unverified polling-unit results, altered result sheets and inflammatory speculations have no place on GOCOP platforms. Breaches will be sanctioned under the Guild’s code.
iii. Members shall prioritise accuracy over speed, reject clickbait, and insulate election coverage from proprietorial and partisan interests.
iv. Where operational delays occur, members shall report them with context and official verification, not as proof of systemic collapse.
v. Members shall actively support voter education, starting with accurate information on PVC collection venues, hours and requirements.
vi. The Nigeria Union of Journalists, GOCOP and other media bodies should seek judicial interpretation of Section 60 of the Electoral Act 2026 vis-à-vis Section 39 of the Constitution on what the media may lawfully report regarding exit polls, projections and results.
*C. To the National Assembly and Federal Government:*
i. The National Assembly should enact legislation that deliberately increases women’s participation and representation in the electoral process.
ii. The Federal Government and relevant agencies should provide a clear, authoritative account of fuel subsidy policy and domestic crude pricing to enable informed voter decisions.
*D. To Political Parties and Candidates:*
i. Parties should conduct open and transparent candidate selection and end opaque consensus arrangements that exclude women.
ii. Candidates should campaign on issues, particularly the cost of living, and refrain from disinformation and incitement.
*E. To Security Agencies:*
The Police and sister agencies should sustain lawful, intelligence-led and non-partisan election security through the 2027 polls.
*F. To Citizens:*
i. Nigerians should collect their PVCs, vote, and clearly define what they want their representatives to stand for.
ii. Citizens should verify information before sharing and hold institutions and officeholders accountable throughout the electoral cycle.
*CONCLUSION AND APPRECIATION*
The conference affirmed that credible elections in 2027 are a shared responsibility of INEC, security agencies, political actors, the media and citizens. GOCOP commits its 127 member publications to verified, fair and responsible coverage before, during and after the polls.
The Guild thanks the keynote speaker, the conference chairman, the Governor of Imo State and panellists for their contributions, as well as partners and sponsors in the public and private sectors for supporting a decade of the GOCOP Annual Conference.
*Issued in Lagos on 10th October, 2026.*
*Signed:*
*Danlami Nmodu, mni*
President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP)
*Sufuyan Ojeifo*
General Secretary, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP)