By Paul Olayemi

The Advocate Lecture Series Board of Council (ALSBC) has announced that Dr. Charles Apoki, renowned international conference speaker and advocate of good governance, will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Advocate Publication Annual Lecture Series.

The announcement was made by ALSBC Chairman, Olorogun Abraham Ogbodo, a veteran journalist and former Editor of The Guardian. 

In a statement signed by Mr. Shedrack Onitsha, Secretary of the Board, the council explained that Dr. Apoki was selected after a rigorous search process, noting his alignment with the vision of the lecture series.

Dr. Apoki’s keynote, titled “From Ballot to Patronage: Why Electoral Victory Fails to Deliver Good Governance in Nigeria”, will examine the disconnect between electoral success and effective governance. The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion featuring experts from the judiciary, law enforcement, and civil society. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Wetland Hotel, Ughelli.

According to the Board, this year’s lecture will interrogate how elections often serve political patrons rather than the electorate, highlighting issues such as godfatherism, weak institutional oversight, and monetisation of politics. The discourse aims to propose reforms that can restore public trust and align elections with service delivery and national development.

Dr. Apoki, a graduate of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine and holder of a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, is also an ordained clergyman and widely respected speaker. He has addressed audiences across Africa and Europe, convenes the Word and Wisdom Conference, and is proprietor of Petra Christian Academy.

The Advocate Lecture Series continues to serve as a platform for critical national conversations, bringing together thought leaders to address pressing governance challenges in Nigeria.