• Urges Stronger Collaboration Ahead of 2027
By Nnamdi Okosieme
The Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) has called for stronger collaboration among the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the media, political parties and other stakeholders to ensure credible, peaceful and hitch-free elections in 2027.
The association made the call during a world press conference held on Thursday ahead of its 2nd Annual Lecture and Awards, to be held on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at the Army Resources Centre, Asokoro, Hall A, Mambilla Barracks, Abuja.
The lecture is themed, “Roadmap to 2027: Strengthening Electoral Security Through Collaboration Among INEC, the Media, and Political Parties for Credible and Hitch-Free Elections.”
Chairman of ACOE, Comrade Shola Akingboye, said the theme was particularly relevant as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
According to him, electoral credibility and security cannot be achieved by one institution alone, stressing the need for effective cooperation among INEC, political parties, the media and other stakeholders before, during and after elections.
Akingboye said the media has a critical responsibility to provide citizens with accurate, verified and timely information while holding electoral stakeholders accountable in line with professional ethics.
He also urged political parties to promote issue-based campaigns, discourage inflammatory rhetoric and ensure that their supporters respect electoral rules.
He stressed the need for improved communication and information-sharing among stakeholders to tackle misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and other threats capable of undermining electoral peace and public confidence.
The ACOE chairman said the annual lecture would provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify practical solutions and develop a collective roadmap for safer and more credible elections in 2027.
The event will also recognise individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to journalism, democracy, public accountability, electoral development and national service.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the 2026 ACOE Annual Lecture and Awards Planning Committee, Chux Ukwuatu, said this year’s anniversary programme had been expanded into a three-day event focused on fitness, humanitarian service, professional development and the annual lecture and awards.
According to him, the first day will feature a physical fitness exercise for members, followed by humanitarian visits to motherless homes.
Ukwuatu said the initiative was designed to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of journalists while encouraging members to identify with vulnerable people in society. The second day will focus on professional development, with an on-the-job training seminar for members on ethical digital journalism in the era of Artificial Intelligence.
The training will examine the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, including misinformation, deepfakes, fabricated content, copyright concerns and the erosion of public trust. The seminar will be held under the theme, “What the AI Will Not Do,” highlighting the need for journalists to retain professional judgment and ethical responsibility despite technological advances.
Ukwuatu said the third day would feature the annual lecture and awards, with the INEC Chairman expected to deliver the keynote address on the 2027 electoral roadmap.
The event is expected to attract about 100 participants, including ministers, senior government officials, politicians, media professionals, civil society representatives, development partners, security agencies and other stakeholders.
Akingboye said ACOE remained committed to promoting professional, responsible and people-centred online journalism that contributes positively to Nigeria’s democratic development.
He urged all stakeholders to participate actively in the three-day programme, noting that electoral security and credibility remained a collective responsibility.
SEE FULL TEXT OF ACOE CHAIRMAN’S SPEECH
ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN, ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE ONLINE EDITORS (ACOE), COMRADE SHOLA AKINGBOYE, AT THE WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY, 2ND ANNUAL LECTURE AND AWARDS
Protocol.
Distinguished members of the media,
Fellow journalists and online editors,
Representatives of media organisations,
Our esteemed partners and stakeholders,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is my great pleasure, on behalf of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), to welcome you to this World Press Conference as we formally announce and unveil the activities marking the fourth anniversary of our association, as well as our 2nd Annual Lecture and Awards.
Let me begin by expressing our sincere appreciation to members of the press for honouring our invitation and for the important role you continue to play in informing, educating and holding society accountable.
The Association of Corporate Online Editors has, over the past four years, remained committed to promoting speed, accuracy and truth in digital journalism, while encouraging professionalism, ethical standards and responsible journalism in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving media environment.
As we mark our fourth anniversary, we have deliberately designed a three-day programme that reflects not only who we are as an association, but also what we stand for.
DAY ONE – FITNESS AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICE
The first day of the anniversary will begin with a physical fitness activity involving members of the association.
We believe that a healthy journalist is better positioned to serve society effectively. Beyond the newsroom, journalists and media professionals must also take their physical and mental wellbeing seriously.
Following the fitness exercise, members of ACOE will embark on humanitarian visits to motherless homes, where we will extend support, care and assistance to children and others in need.
For us, journalism is not only about reporting the problems of society. It is also about understanding those problems, identifying with vulnerable members of our communities and contributing, in whatever modest way we can, to making a difference.
DAY TWO – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MEMBERS
The second day of the anniversary is dedicated primarily to the professional development and welfare of our members.
As the digital media landscape continues to change, particularly with the rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence, there is an urgent need for journalists and online editors to continuously update their knowledge and skills.
We will therefore organise an on-the-job professional training seminar on ethical digital journalism in the era of Artificial Intelligence, among other areas relevant to contemporary media practice.
The objective is to equip our members with the knowledge and professional capacity required to navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by AI while maintaining the fundamental principles of journalism—accuracy, verification, fairness, accountability and ethics.
Artificial Intelligence presents enormous opportunities for journalism, but it also presents serious concerns around misinformation, deepfakes, fabricated content, copyright, manipulation and the erosion of public trust.
As digital journalists, we must therefore ensure that technology serves journalism and does not replace the professional judgment and ethical responsibility of the journalist, hence the Theme of the Training Seminar “……..What the AI Will Not Do”
DAY THREE – THE 2ND ANNUAL LECTURE AND AWARDS
The third day will be the major conference and the climax of our anniversary celebration.
It will feature the 2nd Annual Lecture and Awards of the Association of Corporate Online Editors.
The theme of this year’s lecture is:
“Roadmap to 2027: Strengthening Electoral Security Through Collaboration Between INEC, the Media, and Political Parties for Credible and Hitch-Free Elections.”
The event is scheduled for Thursday, 19th November 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the Army Resources Centre, Asokoro, Hall A, Mambilla Barracks, Abuja.
We consider this theme particularly important and timely as Nigeria moves steadily towards the 2027 general elections.
The responsibility for credible and peaceful elections cannot rest on the shoulders of one institution alone.
INEC has its constitutional responsibility. Political parties have their responsibility. The security agencies have their responsibility. The media has its responsibility. And, ultimately, citizens also have a responsibility.
This is why ACOE believes there must be stronger collaboration and communication among these critical stakeholders.
The media, in particular, has a very important role to play.
As online journalism continues to expand its reach and influence, we must ensure that information reaching the public is properly verified, accurate, balanced and responsibly presented.
We must also confront the growing threats posed by misinformation, disinformation, fake news, hate speech, inflammatory political rhetoric and AI-generated deceptive content, all of which have the potential to undermine public confidence and threaten electoral peace.
Political parties and their supporters must equally embrace issue-based campaigns and refrain from actions and statements capable of heating up the polity.
INEC, on its part, must continue to strengthen communication, transparency and engagement with stakeholders so that Nigerians can have greater confidence in the electoral process.
This is the essence of the conversation we intend to stimulate through our 2nd Annual Lecture.
We want the lecture to go beyond speeches.
We want it to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify practical challenges and develop workable solutions that can contribute to safer, more credible and more peaceful elections in 2027.
ACOE ANNUAL AWARDS
The third day will also feature the ACOE Annual Awards, through which the association will recognise individuals and organisations that have distinguished themselves through their contributions to journalism, democracy, public accountability, electoral development and national service.
We believe that people who contribute positively to society should be recognised and encouraged.
Recognition is not merely about celebrating individuals. It is also about inspiring others to do more.
OUR COMMITMENT AS ACOE
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we celebrate four years of ACOE, we are conscious of the enormous responsibility that comes with operating in Nigeria’s digital media space.
The online media has become one of the most powerful channels through which Nigerians receive information.
With that influence comes responsibility.
At ACOE, we remain committed to promoting professionalism, ethical journalism, credibility, accountability and responsible digital media practice.
We will continue to encourage our members to put truth before sensationalism, verification before publication and public interest before personal or commercial interests.
As we approach 2027, we believe that the media must be part of the solution.
We must help Nigerians understand the electoral process. We must provide credible information. We must give room for diverse voices. We must hold public institutions and political actors accountable, while also ensuring that our journalism does not become a tool for division.
The future of Nigeria’s democracy requires all of us.
CONCLUSION
Distinguished colleagues and members of the press,
The fourth anniversary of ACOE is therefore not just a celebration of the past four years.
It is also a renewed commitment to the future.
It is a commitment to better journalism.
It is a commitment to professional development.
It is a commitment to humanitarian service.
And, importantly, it is a commitment to a democratic process in which Nigerians can participate with confidence.
On behalf of the Association of Corporate Online Editors, I therefore invite INEC, political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, media professionals, development partners and all relevant stakeholders to join us in this important conversation as we work towards credible, peaceful and hitch-free elections in 2027.
I also invite the media and the general public to join us throughout the three-day anniversary programme.
Together, we can strengthen journalism.
Together, we can strengthen public trust.
And together, we can contribute to a stronger and more credible democratic process for Nigeria.
Once again, I thank you all for coming.
Long live the Association of Corporate Online Editors.
Long live the Nigerian media.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
Comrade Shola Akingboye
Chairman
Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE)
“Speed, Accuracy & Truth.”
