The Chairman of the Advocate Lecture Series Board of Council (ALSBC), Abraham Ogbodo, has announced renowned conference speaker and governance advocate, Charles Apoki, as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Advocate Publication Annual Lecture Series.
Ogbodo, a veteran journalist and former editor of The Guardian Newspaper, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Secretary of the ALSBC, Shedrack Onitsha.
According to the statement, Apoki’s selection followed a rigorous search by the board to identify a resource person whose experience and insight align with the objectives of the 2026 lecture.
“The Advocate Lecture Series Board of Council (ALSBC), after a thorough search, is pleased to announce Dr. Charles Apoki, an international conference speaker and good governance advocate, as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Advocate Publication Annual Lecture Series,” the statement said.
The organisers disclosed that Apoki will present a paper titled “From Ballot to Patronage: Why Electoral Victory Fails to Deliver Good Governance in Nigeria.”
The lecture is scheduled to hold on April 16, 2026 at Wetland Hotel in Ughelli, Delta State.
According to the board, the event will also feature a panel discussion involving experts from the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and civil society organisations who will interrogate the issues raised in the keynote address.
The organisers noted that this year’s lecture will focus on the widening disconnect between electoral victories and effective governance in Nigeria, stressing that the discourse will examine how elections often become channels for transferring power to political patrons rather than producing accountable leadership.
The lecture will also analyse the role of godfatherism, weak institutional oversight and the monetisation of politics in undermining democratic mandates, while proposing reforms aimed at restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
Apoki is a graduate of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, where he obtained his medical degree in 1984. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
An ordained clergyman and widely respected conference speaker, he has addressed audiences across Africa and Europe and remains a sought-after resource person for corporate organisations, institutions and government ministries.
He is also the convener of the Word and Wisdom Conference, a leadership and capacity-building platform for pastors, entrepreneurs and professionals.
Apoki is the proprietor of Petra Christian Academy, an educational institution offering nursery, primary and secondary education in Nigeria, and is also known for his work in marriage counselling and leadership mentoring.
