The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has denied allegations of partisanship over the appearance of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), at its 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu.
The Guild’s response followed an editorial published by The Nation newspaper on October 8, 2026, titled ‘Journalists Failed Journalism’, which questioned the conduct of the Guild and its leadership over the conference.
In a statement signed by the NGE President, Eze Anaba, and its General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild said the editorial made serious allegations against its leadership, including suggesting that it acted in a partisan manner by allowing Obi and Prof. Pat Utomi, an NDC chieftain, to address editors at the conference.
The Guild, however, maintained that the conclusion was not supported by the facts, describing ANEC 2026 as a professional gathering devoted to discussing democracy, elections, the media, artificial intelligence, disinformation and Nigeria’s future.
‘The programme of the conference specifically provided for an ‘Executive Session’ on the second day designed to feature governors, political party chairmen and heads of government agencies and parastatals, among other stakeholders,’ the statement said.
It explained that the session was intended to provide a platform for engagement between the media and key actors in Nigeria’s political and public space.
The NGE described it as misleading to isolate the appearance of one political figure from the broader programme and character of the conference and present it as evidence of partisanship.
‘For the avoidance of doubt, the Guild officially invited political parties, including the chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yelwatda; African Democratic Congress (ADC) Senator David Mark; and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, to participate in the relevant engagement. The invitations were not simply sent and abandoned, but reminders were also sent,’ it said.
According to the Guild, its president personally made efforts to secure wider political participation, including speaking with the APC chairman, Prof. Yelwatda, and the ADC Vice-Presidential candidate, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, about participating in the conference.
It added that the General Secretary, Ukeh, also followed up with Paul Ibe, media aide to the ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to encourage the participation of the party and its leaders.
‘These are verifiable facts. They fundamentally undermine the central premise of The Nation’s editorial. If the Guild duly invited the political parties, sent reminders and personally followed up with their leaders and representatives, and some of those invited chose not to attend, should it prevent a candidate who was available and willing to attend from participating?’ the statement asked.
The Guild acknowledged the right of The Nation and other media organisations to scrutinise its activities and express editorial opinions about the conduct of the conference, noting that such scrutiny was an important aspect of accountability for professional institutions.
However, it argued that the editorial ignored the broader range of political and governmental voices represented at the event.
According to the NGE, the conference provided a platform for Tunde Rahman, media adviser to President Bola Tinubu, to speak on the administration. It added that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, was represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while Vice President Kashim Shettima addressed editors virtually from the United States.
‘These engagements demonstrate the very opposite of the partisan picture painted by the editorial,’ the Guild stated.
It also rejected the description of Obi’s appearance as an ‘ambush’, arguing that he attended a professional conference with hundreds of editors and other stakeholders.
The NGE said, ‘There is a fundamental distinction between providing a platform for engagement and supporting a political position.’
It further described the editorial’s assertion that the Guild’s conduct represented an ‘impunity of silence’ as particularly unfortunate.
‘The conference was a public professional gathering attended by hundreds of editors, journalists and stakeholders. The fact that The Nation or another newspaper chose not to report an occurrence does not make that occurrence secret, nor does it establish professional misconduct,’ the statement said.
Reaffirming its commitment to professional journalism, the Guild said it would continue to provide platforms for independent engagement with political actors, public officials, civil society organisations, electoral institutions and other stakeholders, irrespective of their affiliations.
‘The NGE remains committed to its professional responsibilities and to the principles of journalism that have guided it throughout its history. It will continue to provide platforms for robust and independent engagement with political actors, public officials, civil society organisations, electoral institutions and other stakeholders, without fear or favour. That is not partisanship. That is journalism,’ it said.