The Nation Newspaper Guilty Of "Failed Journalism," Says NGE, Demands Apology The Nation Newspaper Guilty Of "Failed Journalism," Says NGE, Demands Apology
The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has denied claims by the Nation Newspaper that it's leadership was partisan by allegedly allowing the Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi and Professor Pat Utomi to participate in its activities during the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference, ANEC, held in Enugu.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has denied claims by the Nation Newspaper that it's leadership was partisan by allegedly allowing the Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi and Professor Pat Utomi to participate in its activities during the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference, ANEC, held in Enugu.
The NGE also, said that the Nation's Newspaper was economical with the truth, and demanded an apology from the newspaper over its editorial accusing journalists of failing journalism, insisting that the editorial board fell short of professional standards by reaching conclusions without establishing the full facts of the matter.
According to the Guild, it invited, it officially invited representatives of major political parties, including the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof. Nentawe Yelwatda; the chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator David Mark; and the Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, to participate in the conference, which Peter Obi and Vice President Kashim Shettima honoured.
The Guild further said that Vice President addressed ANEC virtually from New York, while the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, was also represented at the event by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Alhaji Ali M. Ali.
In a statement jointly signed by President of the Guild, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, respectively, in response to the editorial published on Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Guild said The Nation’s editorial board omitted key facts concerning the 22nd ANEC, particularly on the efforts it made to secure the participation of major political parties and their representatives.
The newspaper’s editorial, titled “Journalists Failed Journalism,” had criticized the decision of the NGE to allow Mr Peter Obi, to address editors at the conference, without stating the efforts to bring in, other party officials thus portraying their appearance as evidence of partisanship by the Guild, a position the NGE strongly rejected.
The Editors further noted that the conclusion of the Nation's Editorial Board was not supported by the facts surrounding the conference, which it stressed was designed as a “professional forum for editors and stakeholders to discuss critical national issues, including democracy, elections, journalism, artificial intelligence, disinformation and the future of Nigeria,”
pointing out that the conference programme specifically provided for an “Executive Session” on the second day, involving governors, political party chairmen, heads of government agencies and other key actors in the political and public space.
It further argued that the participation of Obi and Utomi should therefore be understood within the broader framework of the conference rather than isolated and presented as evidence that the Guild supported the NDC or any political candidate, noting that its decision to provide a platform for political engagement did not amount to endorsement of any party or candidate.
The Guild said it officially invited the major parties adding that the invitations were followed up with reminders, even as the effort to ensure broad political participation went beyond simply sending formal invitations.
The Guild said its President, Eze Anaba, personally engaged some political leaders in an effort to secure wider participation.
“Anaba spoke with APC Chairman Yelwatda and the ADC Vice-Presidential candidate, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, concerning their participation in the conference,” just as its General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, personally followed up with Mr. Paul Ibe, media aide to ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to encourage the participation of the party and its leaders.
The newspaper’s editorial, titled “Journalists Failed Journalism,” had criticized the decision of the NGE to allow Mr Peter Obi, to address editors at the conference, without stating the efforts to bring in, other party officials thus portraying their appearance as evidence of partisanship by the Guild, a position the NGE strongly rejected.
The Editors further noted that the conclusion of the Nation's Editorial Board was not supported by the facts surrounding the conference, which it stressed was designed as a “professional forum for editors and stakeholders to discuss critical national issues, including democracy, elections, journalism, artificial intelligence, disinformation and the future of Nigeria,”
pointing out that the conference programme specifically provided for an “Executive Session” on the second day, involving governors, political party chairmen, heads of government agencies and other key actors in the political and public space.
It further argued that the participation of Obi and Utomi should therefore be understood within the broader framework of the conference rather than isolated and presented as evidence that the Guild supported the NDC or any political candidate, noting that its decision to provide a platform for political engagement did not amount to endorsement of any party or candidate.
The Guild said it officially invited the major parties adding that the invitations were followed up with reminders, even as the effort to ensure broad political participation went beyond simply sending formal invitations.
The Guild said its President, Eze Anaba, personally engaged some political leaders in an effort to secure wider participation.
“Anaba spoke with APC Chairman Yelwatda and the ADC Vice-Presidential candidate, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, concerning their participation in the conference,” just as its General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, personally followed up with Mr. Paul Ibe, media aide to ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to encourage the participation of the party and its leaders.
The Guild also further stated that these efforts contradicted the main argument of The Nation editorial, wondering why it should be held responsible when political parties that were invited and reminded about the conference failed to attend.
According to the Editors, it would have been inappropriate to prevent a political candidate who was available and willing to participate simply because other invited candidates or political parties chose not to attend, even as the Senior Media assistant to President Tinubu, Tunde Rahman, also, addressed the conference on the administration.
The NGE said the participation of these officials and representatives demonstrated that the conference provided a broad platform for engagement rather than a platform designed to favour a particular political party or candidate, and consequently rejected The Nation editorial’s description of Obi’s appearance at the conference as an “ambush.”
According to the Editors, it would have been inappropriate to prevent a political candidate who was available and willing to participate simply because other invited candidates or political parties chose not to attend, even as the Senior Media assistant to President Tinubu, Tunde Rahman, also, addressed the conference on the administration.
The NGE said the participation of these officials and representatives demonstrated that the conference provided a broad platform for engagement rather than a platform designed to favour a particular political party or candidate, and consequently rejected The Nation editorial’s description of Obi’s appearance at the conference as an “ambush.”
The Guild insisted that, Obi, the NDC presidential candidate attended an open professional gathering involving hundreds of editors, journalists and other stakeholders, and his participation should not be confused with an endorsement of his political position.
The Guild further maintained that there was a fundamental difference between providing a platform for engagement and supporting a political position, while taking an exception to the editorial’s reference to an “impunity of silence,” describing the characterization as unfortunate.
The Editors noted that it was particularly ironic that it had been accused of “failing journalism” by an editorial which, in its view, failed to take into account of material facts surrounding the invitations extended to political parties and the subsequent efforts to secure their participation.
“It is the Nation’s Editorial Board that failed journalism,” the Editors declared, pointing out that the “newspaper’s editorial fell short of journalistic standards by reaching a sweeping conclusion without establishing the full facts.”
The NGE then reaffirmed its commitment to what it described as the cardinal principles of journalism, which include accuracy, fairness, balance, objectivity, independence and accountability.
The Editors furthermore, promised to provide platforms for independent engagement among political actors, public officials, civil society organisations, electoral institutions and other stakeholders “without fear or favour,” adding,“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 (misinformation) in its editorial and offer an apology to the Guild and its leadership.”
The Guild further maintained that there was a fundamental difference between providing a platform for engagement and supporting a political position, while taking an exception to the editorial’s reference to an “impunity of silence,” describing the characterization as unfortunate.
The Editors noted that it was particularly ironic that it had been accused of “failing journalism” by an editorial which, in its view, failed to take into account of material facts surrounding the invitations extended to political parties and the subsequent efforts to secure their participation.
“It is the Nation’s Editorial Board that failed journalism,” the Editors declared, pointing out that the “newspaper’s editorial fell short of journalistic standards by reaching a sweeping conclusion without establishing the full facts.”
The NGE then reaffirmed its commitment to what it described as the cardinal principles of journalism, which include accuracy, fairness, balance, objectivity, independence and accountability.
The Editors furthermore, promised to provide platforms for independent engagement among political actors, public officials, civil society organisations, electoral institutions and other stakeholders “without fear or favour,” adding,“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 (misinformation) in its editorial and offer an apology to the Guild and its leadership.”
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