The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has denied allegations of partisanship over the twenty second All Nigeria Editors Convention (ANEC) in Enugu and instructed Country Newspaper to apologise over its editorial at the convention.
The Guild used to be reacting to an article printed by way of the newspaper on October 8, 2026, titled “Reporters Failed Journalism,” which wondered the NGE’s habits over the participation of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Prof. Pat Utomi, a chieftain of the celebration, on the convention.
In a remark signed by way of the NGE President, Eze Anaba, and Normal Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild stated the editorial made severe allegations towards its management, together with the advice that the NGE acted in a partisan method by way of permitting Obi and Utomi to deal with editors on the convention.
The Guild stated the realization used to be no longer supported by way of the details, stressing that ANEC 2026 used to be a certified accumulating of editors and different stakeholders dedicated to interrogating important problems relating to democracy, elections, the media, synthetic intelligence, disinformation and the way forward for Nigeria.
In line with the NGE, the convention programme particularly supplied for an “Govt Consultation” on the second one day, designed to function governors, political celebration chairmen, heads of presidency companies and parastatals and different stakeholders.
It stated the aim of the consultation used to be to supply a platform for engagement between the media and key actors in Nigeria’s political and public house.
The Guild stated it formally invited political events, together with the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and NDC, to take part within the related engagement.
It indexed the APC chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yelwatda; ADC chairman, Senator David Mark; and NDC chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, amongst the ones invited.
The NGE stated the invites have been adopted by way of reminders, including that Anaba in my view spoke with Yelwatda and ADC Vice-Presidential candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, in reference to participation on the convention.
It added that Ukeh in my view adopted up with Paul Ibe, media aide to the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to inspire the participation of the celebration and its leaders.
“Those are verifiable details. They basically undermine the central premise of The Country’s editorial,” the Guild stated.
The NGE wondered whether or not the absence of a few invited political figures will have to have avoided a candidate who used to be to be had and prepared to wait from taking part.
“If the Guild duly invited the political events, despatched reminders and in my view adopted up with their leaders and representatives, and a few of the ones invited selected to not attend, will have to it save you a candidate who used to be to be had and prepared to wait from taking part?” it requested.
The Guild said the suitable of Country Newspaper and different media organisations to scrutinise its actions and specific editorial reviews in regards to the habits of the convention.
It stated such scrutiny used to be the most important a part of the duty anticipated {of professional} establishments, together with the media.
Alternatively, the NGE stated the editorial overlooked the wider vary of political and governmental voices that featured on the convention.
The Guild famous that Tunde Rahman, media adviser to President Bola Tinubu, spoke at the management, whilst the Minister of Knowledge and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, used to be represented on the convention by way of the Managing Director of the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN).
It additionally identified that Vice President Kashim Shettima addressed editors nearly from the US.
“Those engagements show the very reverse of the partisan image painted by way of the editorial,” the Guild stated.
The NGE additionally rejected the outline of Obi’s look as an “ambush”, arguing that he attended a certified convention at which masses of editors and stakeholders have been provide.
“There’s a basic difference between offering a platform for engagement and supporting a political place,” it stated.
The Guild described as “in particular unlucky” the newspaper’s connection with its habits as an “impunity of silence.”
It argued that the convention used to be a public skilled accumulating attended by way of masses of editors, reporters and stakeholders.
The NGE stated the truth that Country Newspaper or some other newspaper selected to not file an prevalence didn’t make it secret or identify skilled misconduct.
The Guild reaffirmed its dedication to offering platforms for tough and unbiased engagement with political actors, public officers, civil society organisations, electoral establishments and different stakeholders, with out worry or favour.
“That’s not partisanship. This is journalism,” the Guild stated.
The NGE referred to as on Country Newspaper’s Editorial Board to recognize what it described as omissions in its editorial, proper the “deceptive impressions” and be offering an apology to the Guild and its management.