The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, has announced four panelists for its 10th annual conference scheduled to hold in Lagos on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The panelists will discuss the theme, “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.”
They are Dr Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police, Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Professor Tayo Popoola, Head of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos; Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, Creative Director of Gender Agenda and Founder of WEWE Network Afrique; and Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre.
GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Kemi Yesufu, announced the names in a statement issued on Monday.
She said the panelists were selected for their experience in election security, journalism, media development, civic engagement and public communication.
According to the guild, the discussion will examine the responsibilities of electoral institutions, political actors, security agencies, the media and citizens in strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The conference will begin at 10 a.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel, 38–40 Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
GOCOP had earlier announced that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, would deliver the keynote address.
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, will chair the conference.
The 2026 conference will mark the 10th edition of GOCOP’s annual gathering, which brings together media executives, policymakers, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to discuss issues of national importance.
GOCOP says it is a business membership organisation comprising 127 online publications in Nigeria. Its members are media entrepreneurs who own and operate digital publishing businesses across the country.
The guild promotes professional and ethical standards in online publishing and says it works to advance the collective interests of its members while strengthening the sustainability and credibility of digital journalism in Nigeria.
The conference comes as attention turns to preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the programme focusing on trust, transparency and the respective responsibilities of stakeholders in the electoral process.
