AHEAD of next year’s general elections, participants at this year’s edition of Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) Annual Conference and 7th Annual Lecture Series have stressed the importance of credible elections, responsible journalism and stronger institutional accountability for progress of Nigeria to make progress.
Speaking on Wednesday, October 21, at the event held at David’s Event Centre, GRA, Asaba, under the theme, ‘Democracy Under Pressure: Electoral Integrity, Security Challenges and Media Accountability in Nigeria,’ Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Commissioner for Special Duties (Government House), Ifeanyi Osuoza, charged journalists and online publishers to uphold accuracy, fairness, balance and professional integrity.
Oborevwori cautioned that misinformation and hate speech could erode public trust and threaten democratic stability, stressing the importance of credible elections, accountable institutions and responsible communication in strengthening democracy.
Chairman of the occasion and Chief Strategist to the Governor, Festus Okubor, in his address, titled, ‘Democracy Under Pressure: When the Ballot, the Bullet and the Phone Compete for Power,’ argued that electoral technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), could not, on their own, guarantee credible elections without transparency, integrity and public confidence in the electoral process.
Okubor identified insecurity and its impact on voter participation as major concerns, drawing attention to the growing influence of social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated content in shaping political narratives.
The former commissioner for Information recommended rigorous verification, responsible digital communication, professional media standards and greater commitment by political actors to democratic principles.
Guest Lecturer, Robert Oghenedoro Dode, a professor of Political Science at Dennis Osadebay University (DOU) and former deputy vice chancellor (Academics), examined the relationship among electoral integrity, security and media accountability.
Dode stressed the need for independent electoral institutions, impartial security operations and a professional media capable of holding public officials accountable, while highlighting the importance of protecting journalists and ensuring citizens could participate in elections without intimidation.
In their goodwill messages, Senator Ede Dafinone; Delta State Commissioner of Police (CP), Samuel Etaifo Erale; Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Etekamba Udo Umoren, and Executive Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the Governor, Olisa Ifeajika, underscored the need for peaceful elections, institutional cooperation and responsible communication.
Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, described the media as a vital pillar of democracy, urging journalists to promote accountability, counter misinformation and uphold truth and fairness.
Dafinone commended DOPF for providing a platform for discussions on governance and democratic development.
Erale, represented by Aliyu Mairiga (SP), reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting voters and securing elections.
He disclosed that the Police were strengthening intelligence-led, technology-driven and community-centred policing to tackle kidnapping, cultism, farmer-herder conflicts and cybercrime.
The Police chief called for cooperation among security agencies, political actors, the media and citizens, urging political stakeholders to avoid violence, and online publishers to verify information and shun sensational reporting capable of breaching public peace.
Umoren, represented by INEC’s Director/Administrative Secretary in the s State, Davis Eldred, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting elections in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Electoral Act 2026.
He described electoral security as a shared responsibility, harping on the importance of transparency, voter education, inclusivity and public confidence.
Ifeajika, on his part, charged political actors to prioritise national interest and peace over personal interest, warning that misinformation and manipulation of public opinion could threaten national security and democratic stability.
He challenged journalists to deepen their knowledge of the Constitution and Electoral Act to improve public understanding of electoral processes and citizens’ rights.Earlier in his address,
DOPF Chairman, Emmanuel Enebeli, reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to ethical and accountable digital journalism, urging publishers/members to verify information before publication, preserve editorial independence and take responsibility for the content they push to the public.
Enebeli stressed that the credibility of online media depended on accuracy, fairness and public trust, particularly during politically sensitive periods when unverified reports could inflame tensions and mislead citizens.
The panel session, moderated by Kemi Emina, featured Patrick Edema, who examined media accountability; Norbert Chiazor, who addressed credible elections, voter apathy, insecurity and the media’s responsibilities; Gladys Imegu (CSP), who dwelt on Police professionalism and stakeholder cooperation; as well as legal practitioner, Godswill Umahi, who advocated electoral reforms, stronger institutional, independence, campaign-finance regulation and digital literacy.
The speakers and discussants agreed that credible elections could not be secured by technology or security agencies alone, calling for collective commitment by political parties, candidates, public institutions, journalists and citizens to uphold the law, reject violence, counter misinformation and protect the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the next general elections.
The conference brought together stakeholders from the political, security, media and public sectors, including representatives of the Delta State Police Command, INEC and the Delta State Government.
