The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has demanded an apology from The Nation newspaper, which was established by President Bola Tinubu, over an editorial accusing journalists of failing their profession, rejecting claims that its decision to host Peter Obi and Prof. Pat Utomi at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu amounted to political partisanship.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, the Guild defended the participation of the two Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) figures, insisting that the conference was a professional forum for engaging political leaders and public officials, not an endorsement of any political party.
The Guild was reacting to an editorial published on October 8, 2026, titled “Journalists Failed Journalism,” which questioned its decision to allow Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, and Utomi, a chieftain of the party, to address editors at the conference.
In the statement jointly signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the NGE described the allegations as unsupported by facts, insisting that the conference was designed to examine critical issues affecting democracy, elections, journalism, artificial intelligence, disinformation and Nigeria’s future.
The Guild explained that its programme made provision for an “Executive Session” on the second day of the conference to accommodate governors, political party chairmen, heads of government agencies and other stakeholders for engagement with the media.
It said political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and NDC, were formally invited to participate in the session. According to the statement, those invited included APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark; and NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe.
The NGE said reminders were sent to the parties, adding that Anaba personally contacted Yilwatda and ADC chieftain Chibuike Amaechi to encourage their participation. Ukeh also reportedly followed up with Paul Ibe, media aide to ADC presidential candidate 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,” the Guild stated.
It questioned whether the absence of some invited political figures should have prevented other willing participants from attending the conference. The Guild also argued that the editorial failed to acknowledge the participation of other political and government representatives at the event.
It cited the appearance of Tunde Rahman, media adviser to President Bola Tinubu, who spoke on the administration, as well as the representation of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The NGE further noted that Vice President Kashim Shettima addressed the editors virtually from the United States.
“These engagements demonstrate the very opposite of the partisan picture painted by the editorial,” it said.
On the newspaper’s description of Obi’s appearance as an “ambush”, the Guild maintained that he attended a professional conference attended by hundreds of editors and other stakeholders.
“There is a fundamental distinction between providing a platform for engagement and supporting a political position,” the statement added.
The NGE acknowledged the right of media organisations to scrutinise its activities and express opinions about the conduct of the conference, describing such scrutiny as essential to accountability in professional institutions.
However, it faulted The Nation for describing its conduct as an “impunity of silence”, arguing that the conference was a public professional gathering rather than a secret event. It maintained that a newspaper’s decision not to report an occurrence did not make the event secret or establish professional misconduct.
Reaffirming its commitment to providing platforms for independent engagement with political actors, public officials, civil society organisations and electoral institutions, the Guild said it would continue to discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour.
“That is not partisanship. That is journalism,” it declared.
The NGE consequently urged the editorial board of The Nation to acknowledge what it described as omissions in its publication, correct what it considered misleading impressions, and apologise to the Guild and its leadership.
FULL TEXT OF THE NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS’ STATEMENT TITLE: IT’S THE NATION NEWSPAPER’S EDITORIAL BOARD THAT HAS FAILED JOURNALISM
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has noted the editorial published by The Nation newspaper under the headline “Journalists Failed Journalism” on October 8, 2026, and considers it necessary to set the record straight.
The editorial makes serious allegations against the Guild and its leadership, including the suggestion that the NGE acted in a partisan manner at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu by allowing Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), and Prof. Pat Utomi, a chieftain of the party to address editors at the conference. That conclusion is simply not supported by the facts.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors is a responsible professional organisation that holds firmly to the cardinal principles of journalism —accuracy, fairness, balance, objectivity, independence and accountability. It is therefore regrettable that an editorial accusing the Guild of failing journalism was written by a newspaper of The Nation’s calibre without establishing the full facts.
The appearance of Mr Peter Obi and Prof. Pat Utomi at the conference did not amount to support of the NDC, Mr Obi or any political candidate. ANEC 2026 was not organised as a platform for any political party or presidential candidate. It was a professional gathering of editors and other stakeholders devoted to interrogating critical issues concerning democracy, elections, the media, artificial intelligence, disinformation and the future of Nigeria.
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 purpose was to provide a platform for engagement between the media and key actors in Nigeria’s political and public space.
It is therefore 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.
The President of the Guild, Mr Eze Anaba, personally made efforts to secure wider political participation. He spoke with the APC Chairman, Prof. Yelwatda, and the ADC Vice-Presidential candidate, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, in connection with participation at the conference.
The General Secretary of the Guild, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, also personally followed up with Mr 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, why should the Guild be blamed for their absence? Should it prevent a candidate who was available and willing to attend from participating simply because other invited candidates or parties chose not to attend?
The editorial also ignores the broader range of political and governmental voices that featured at the conference. The Guild provided a platform for Mr Tunde Rahman, media adviser to the President, to speak on the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, was represented at the conference by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Vice President Kashim Shettima also addressed editors virtually from the United States. These engagements demonstrate the very opposite of the partisan picture painted by the editorial.
The description of Mr Peter Obi’s appearance as an “ambush” is therefore misplaced. He attended a professional conference at which hundreds of editors and stakeholders were present. There is a fundamental distinction between providing a platform for engagement and supporting a political position.
The assertion in the editorial that the Guild’s conduct represented an “impunity of silence” is 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.
It is particularly ironic to accuse the Nigerian Guild of Editors of “failing journalism” while arriving at a conclusion that does not take account of these material facts. It is The Nation Newspaper’s Editorial Board that failed journalism. The Nation’s editorial fell short of journalism standard because it reached a sweeping conclusion without establishing the full facts concerning the invitations extended to political parties and the efforts made by the Guild to secure broad political participation.
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.
Now that the facts have been placed on record, the NGE expects The Nation newspaper’s Editorial Board, made up of responsible members of Nigeria’s media community, to acknowledge the omissions in its editorial and offer an apology to the Guild and its leadership.
Signed:
- Eze Anaba, President
- Onuoha Ukeh, General Secretary
