The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has dismissed allegations of bias regarding its choice to allow Peter Obi and Pat Utomi to speak at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu.
This response comes after an editorial published by The Nation on 8th October 2026 claimed that “Journalists Failed Journalism.”
In a statement signed by President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the NGE stated that the editorial’s conclusions lacked factual support. They emphasised that the conference centred on key issues like democracy, elections, media ethics, artificial intelligence, disinformation, and Nigeria’s future.
The Guild clarified that the event featured an executive session with governors, political party leaders, and other stakeholders. It invited several political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, making efforts to ensure their participation. Anaba reached out to APC chairman Prof. Nentawe Yelwatda, and ADC vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi, while Ukeh contacted Paul Ibe, the media aide for ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
The NGE noted that the absence of some invitees should not have deterred a willing candidate from attending. They questioned whether such absences should prevent available candidates from participating.
Additionally, the Guild rejected claims that the conference offered a politically biased platform, highlighting that Tunde Rahman, media adviser to President Bola Tinubu, and Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, participated in discussions. Vice-President Kashim Shettima also addressed attendees virtually from the United States.
The NGE deemed The Nation’s description of Obi’s presence as an “ambush” as misguided, asserting that he spoke at an open professional event attended by editors and journalists. The statement underscored that offering a platform for dialogue is not an endorsement of any political position.
Furthermore, the Guild refuted claims of an “impunity of silence,” emphasising that the conference was public, and a failure to report does not equate to secrecy or professional misconduct.
The NGE reaffirmed its commitment to providing platforms for dialogue with political and civic leaders and called on The Nation’s editorial board to recognise and correct inaccuracies in its editorial, as well as apologise to the Guild and its members.
