The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has rejected allegations of partisanship surrounding the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu, demanding an apology from The Nation newspaper over its editorial criticising the Guild’s handling of the event.
The dispute follows an editorial published by the newspaper on October 8, 2026, titled “Journalists Failed Journalism,” which questioned the Guild’s decision to provide a platform for Peter Obi, a presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Professor Pat Utomi, a party chieftain, to address editors at the conference.
In a statement signed by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild described the allegations as unfounded, insisting that the conference was a professional gathering designed to examine critical issues affecting Nigeria’s democracy, electoral process and media industry.
The Guild maintained that the participation of political figures at the conference was part of a broader engagement involving political parties, government officials and other stakeholders.
According to the Guild, the conference programme included an executive session on the second day, specifically designed to accommodate governors, political party leaders, heads of government agencies and other public figures.
The NGE said it extended invitations to several political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and NDC, as part of its commitment to inclusive political engagement.
Among those reportedly invited were APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark and NDC National Chairman Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe.
The Guild also disclosed that reminders and personal follow ups were made to encourage participation by political leaders and their representatives.
It argued that the absence of some invitees should not have prevented other willing participants from attending the conference.
“These are verifiable facts. They fundamentally undermine the central premise of The Nation’s editorial,” the Guild stated.
The NGE further challenged the newspaper’s portrayal of Obi’s appearance as an ambush, arguing that the former presidential candidate attended an organised professional gathering attended by hundreds of editors, journalists and other stakeholders.
The Guild stressed that providing political figures with an opportunity to engage with the media should not automatically be interpreted as an endorsement of their political positions.
“There is a fundamental distinction between providing a platform for engagement and supporting a political position,” the statement said.
To reinforce its position, the Guild highlighted the participation of other government representatives at the conference.
It noted that Tunde Rahman, a media adviser to President Bola Tinubu, spoke on the administration, while Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris was represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria.
The Guild also cited Vice President Kashim Shettima’s virtual address to the editors from the United States as evidence of the range of government perspectives represented at the event.
According to the NGE, these engagements contradicted the impression that the conference was organised to favour a particular political party or candidate.
While acknowledging the right of media organisations to scrutinise its activities and express editorial opinions, the Guild said such criticism should reflect the facts and provide a balanced account of events.
It also rejected The Nation’s description of its conduct as an “impunity of silence,” arguing that the conference was a public gathering rather than a secretive engagement.
The NGE maintained that a media organisation’s decision not to report an event did not establish that the event was concealed or that professional misconduct had occurred.
Reaffirming its commitment to independent journalism, the Guild said it would continue to provide platforms for engagement among political actors, government officials, civil society organisations and electoral institutions without fear or favour.
The Guild consequently called on the newspaper’s Editorial Board to acknowledge what it described as omissions in its publication, correct the impressions it considered misleading and apologise to the organisation and its leadership.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the relationship between media accountability, editorial independence and the responsibility of professional journalism bodies to provide balanced platforms for public debate.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
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