Three figures drawn from academia, journalism and policing have been named to lead a panel discussion at the 2026 Annual Conference and 6th Lecture Series of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF).

The panellists are Professor Presly Ogheneruke Obukoadata, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Ozoro; journalist and media scholar Comrade Norbert Chiazor, PhD; and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Gladys Imegwu.

The conference will hold on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at David’s Event Centre, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Asaba, Delta State, under the theme, “Democracy Under Pressure: Electoral Integrity, Security Challenges, and Media Accountability.”

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, is expected to attend as the Special Guest of Honour. His expected presence underlines the theme’s relevance to democratic governance, electoral credibility, public security and media accountability.

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The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will also be at the event, where he will deliver a brief talk on the theme, presenting the electoral umpire’s perspective on the challenges confronting democratic processes and the need to strengthen public confidence in elections.

Media practitioners, communication scholars, security professionals, public officials and other stakeholders are expected at the gathering, which will examine the relationship between credible elections, public safety, responsible journalism and democratic accountability in Nigeria.

Obukoadata: academic and strategic communication expertise

Professor Obukoadata is an accomplished communication scholar, strategic communication expert and academic administrator. He serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Brand, Strategic and Metacommunication at Southern Delta University, Ozoro, and is Dean of the Faculty of Communication Technology. He earlier pioneered the institution’s Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.

He holds academic qualifications in Mass Communication from Delta State University, Abraka, and the University of Uyo, and has built an extensive career across several higher institutions, among them the University of Calabar, the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, and the National Open University of Nigeria.

His research interests span strategic communication, brand management, crisis communication, media ecology, artificial intelligence, development communication and public relations. With more than 50 publications in journals, books and book chapters, his scholarship and professional engagements have established him as a voice in discussions on media innovation, digital transformation and communication in governance.

His contribution to the panel is expected to offer an academic and strategic communication perspective on the media’s role in protecting electoral integrity, countering misinformation, promoting informed public discourse and holding institutions accountable in a democracy increasingly influenced by digital communication and emerging technologies.

Chiazor: journalism, newsroom leadership and media management

Comrade Norbert Chiazor, popularly known as the Wordsmith, brings substantial professional experience to the discussion as a distinguished journalist, communication scholar, writer and media administrator.

A graduate of English and Literature from the University of Benin, he also holds a Mass Communication degree from Delta State University, Abraka, and master’s and doctoral degrees in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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His broadcasting career took in service at the former Bendel Broadcasting Service, Benin City, and the Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, where he rose to become Deputy General Manager and Head of News and Current Affairs. His professional experience also extends to freelance journalism with prominent local and international media organisations, including The Guardian, National Concord, South Africa’s Mail & Guardian, The Irish Times, The Sowetan and The International Herald Tribune.

Chiazor, who publishes The Nigerian Post, chaired the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, from 2011 to 2017. His tenure was marked by infrastructure development and professional capacity-building initiatives, including advancement of the NUJ Press Centre project and the training of Delta journalists at the Reuters Journalism Institute in London.

He has also served as Executive Assistant on Media to former Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and currently holds the same position under Governor Oborevwori.

His experience in journalism, newsroom leadership, media management and government communication is expected to enrich discussions on media independence, professional ethics and fact-based reporting, as well as the responsibility of journalists and online publishers to provide accurate information, scrutinise public institutions and resist the spread of misinformation during electoral periods.

The third panellist, CSP Gladys Imegwu, is the Officer in Charge of Legal Matters at the Delta State Police Command, a role that places her at the intersection of law enforcement, criminal investigation, legal oversight and the administration of justice.

Imegwu has stressed the importance of professional investigative procedures, respect for due process and the protection of the rights of suspects. She has also advocated improved security manpower and operational capacity, while underscoring the need for cooperation among security agencies and justice sector institutions to enhance accountability and effective law enforcement.

Her participation is expected to bring a critical security and legal perspective to the theme, particularly on the responsibility of security agencies to protect lives and property, maintain peace, enforce the law impartially and safeguard citizens’ rights during elections.

Her experience will also be relevant to examining the relationship between the police and the media, including the need for responsible information sharing, accurate reporting of security incidents and mutual respect for professional responsibilities in the interest of public safety and democratic stability.

The backgrounds of the three panellists in academia, journalism and policing reflect the multidimensional approach required to address the pressures facing democratic governance. Their engagement, alongside the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner’s brief talk, is expected to provide participants with complementary perspectives on electoral administration, security preparedness, media responsibility and institutional accountability.

As Nigeria continues to navigate debates around electoral credibility, public trust, security challenges and the influence of digital information, the DOPF conference provides a platform for critical reflection on how the media, electoral authorities, security agencies and other democratic institutions can strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.

The theme also underscores the importance of balancing media freedom with professional accountability, ensuring that electoral information is accurate and verifiable, and promoting constructive engagement between journalists and public institutions without compromising the media’s watchdog responsibility.

The 2026 Annual Conference and 6th Lecture Series forms part of DOPF’s continuing engagement with issues central to journalism, public communication, democracy and responsible media practice.

With Governor Oborevwori expected as Special Guest of Honour, the participation of the Delta State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and the distinguished panel of experts, the Forum is positioning the conference as an important platform for informed dialogue on the responsibilities of key institutions in protecting electoral integrity, addressing security challenges and strengthening democratic accountability.