It is now confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu will deliver the keynote address at the 2022 conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). The event holds on Thursday, October 6, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
This was conveyed via a letter dated September 19 and addressed to the President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo.
A statement by the Chairman, Planning Committee, Mr. Ken Ugbechie said the theme of the conference is ‘2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome’ with Dr. Umar Ardo, Founder of Centre for Alternative Policy Perspectives and Strategy (CAPPS) as the chairman.
Three panellists drawn from civil society, legal profession, security and international organisations are expected at the event. They are, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; Dr. Solomon Arase (Retired Inspector General of Police) and Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Regional Director, Ford Foundation (West Africa).
Ugbechie said the conference which will hold barely five months to the 2023 general elections and one week into the official commencement of campaigns by political parties will provide a roadmap for Nigerians on the need to play by the rules and conform to acceptable electoral behaviour.
He said the conference will be heralded by a business luncheon with GOCOP partners and other media stakeholders on Wednesday, October 5, at the same venue.
Previous speakers at GOCOP conferences include, Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto who in 2019 spoke on “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward”. In 2021, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation delivered the keynote speech in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. He spoke on: “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria.”