2027: Oborevwori, Dafinone, Police, INEC Raise Alarm Over Threats To Credible Elections

As the 2027 general elections draw closer, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Ede Dafinone, the Delta State Police Command, INEC and other key stakeholders have warned that technology alone cannot guarantee credible polls without integrity, security and responsible media.

The warning came at the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) 2026 Annual Conference and 7th Lecture Series held on Wednesday, October 21, at David’s Event Centre, GRA, Asaba, with the theme: "Democracy Under Pressure: Electoral Integrity, Security Challenges and Media Accountability in Nigeria."

Declaring the conference open, Governor Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties (Government House), Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, charged online publishers to uphold accuracy, fairness and balance, warning that misinformation and hate speech remain potent threats to democracy.

Setting the tone for the day, Chairman of the occasion and Chief Strategist to the Governor, Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor, in an address titled "Democracy Under Pressure: When the Ballot, the Bullet and the Phone Compete for Power!" said innovations like BVAS and IReV cannot deliver credibility without transparency and public trust.

Okubor flagged insecurity as a major voter suppressant and raised concerns over the growing manipulation of political narratives through social media and AI-generated content, calling for verification and ethical digital communication.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Prof. Dode Robert Oghenedoro of Dennis Osadebay University said credible elections rest on three pillars — independent electoral institutions, impartial security agencies and a professional media that holds power to account — while stressing the need to protect journalists and voters from intimidation.

Earlier in his welcome address, DOPF Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli, reaffirmed the Forum's commitment to ethical digital journalism, urging members to verify before publishing and preserve editorial independence, noting that credibility is built on public trust.

In goodwill messages, Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central), Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, represented by SP Aliyu Mairiga, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, represented by Mr. Davis Eldred, and Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, spoke in one voice on the need for peace, institutional synergy and truth.

Senator Dafinone described the media as a vital pillar of democracy and urged journalists to counter fake news and promote accountability.

On his part, the Police Commissioner assured of intelligence-led, technology-driven policing to secure voters and tackle kidnapping, cultism and cybercrime, while urging politicians to shun violence and publishers to avoid sensationalism.

INEC, through its Administrative Secretary, reaffirmed commitment to constitutional and Electoral Act compliance, describing electoral security as a shared responsibility and harping on transparency and voter education.

Ifeajika cautioned that misinformation and manipulation of public opinion threaten national stability and charged journalists to deepen their knowledge of the Constitution and Electoral Act.

The panel session moderated by Prof. Kemi Emina featured Dr. Patrick Edema on media accountability, Dr. Norbert Chiazor on voter apathy and credibility, CSP Gladys Enoho Imegu on police professionalism, and Barr. Godswill Umahi on electoral reforms, campaign finance regulation and digital literacy.

Participants agreed that credible elections in 2027 will require collective responsibility of political actors, security agencies, INEC, the media and citizens to reject violence, curb fake news and safeguard electoral integrity.