ABUJA — Nigeria’s leading digital publishers and senior journalists have announced a three-day national summit in November aimed at addressing the dual challenges of artificial intelligence in journalism and safeguarding the integrity of the country’s upcoming 2027 general elections.
The Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), the primary professional body representing digital news executives across Africa’s most populous nation, unveiled the itinerary during a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday. The event will celebrate the association’s fourth anniversary alongside its second annual lecture and national awards.
Speaking at the launch, ACOE Chairman Shola Akingboye emphasized that the rapidly evolving digital media ecosystem requires urgent intervention to maintain public trust, combat automated misinformation, and foster institutional collaboration ahead of critical political milestones.
“Online media has become one of the most powerful channels through which citizens receive information, and with that influence comes immense responsibility,” Mr. Akingboye said. “We must help the public understand the electoral process, provide verified information, and hold public institutions accountable without allowing journalism to become a tool for division.”
AI and the battle for editorial integrity
A central component of the anniversary program will focus on the deployment of artificial intelligence in African newsrooms. The organization plans to hold an intensive professional development seminar for senior editors and reporters titled “What the AI Will Not Do,” addressing the ethics of automated content generation, deepfakes, and digital manipulation.
Mr. Akingboye highlighted that while artificial intelligence offers unprecedented tools for data analysis and distribution, it simultaneously poses severe risks to democratic governance and electoral peace through synthetic media and fabricated reports.
“Artificial intelligence presents enormous opportunities for journalism, but it also presents serious concerns around deepfakes, copyright infringement, and the erosion of public trust,” he noted. “We must ensure that technology serves journalism without replacing the professional judgment, verification, and ethical responsibility of human editors.”
Security and the roadmap to the 2027 elections
The summit will culminate on 19 November 2026 at the Army Resource Centre in Abuja, featuring a flagship public lecture focused on national security, electoral administration, and press freedom.
The keynote address—centered on building a strategic roadmap for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections—will examine multi-agency collaboration between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies, and digital news gatekeepers.
Planning Committee Chairman Chux Ukwuatu confirmed that the electoral commission leadership, alongside government ministers, senior security personnel, and civil society leaders, are expected to attend the Abuja conference.
“The responsibility for credible and peaceful elections cannot rest on the shoulders of a single institution,” Mr. Ukwuatu said. “As digital news platforms expand their reach, we must confront the growing threats of inflammatory rhetoric and AI-generated deceptive content that threaten electoral peace.”
Alongside the national conference, ACOE announced it will host humanitarian outreach visits to local orphanages and hold a physical health initiative for media workers, acknowledging the demanding nature of digital newsroom operations. The three-day event will conclude with an awards ceremony honoring public figures and institutions for contributions to democracy, public accountability, and national development.
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