Under the backdrop of looming 2027 general elections and a rapidly evolving digital landscape, media executives, state governors, traditional rulers, and religious leaders gathered in the historic Coal City of Enugu for the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC).
Deliberating under the overarching theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” key stakeholders delivered an unequivocal charge: Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive without an independent press, an uncorrupted ballot, and proactive defences against synthetic media and artificial intelligence.
In his opening address, Eze Anaba, the outgoing President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), emphasised that political actors are not the sole custodians of the democratic ecosystem. Expressing concern over growing political intolerance and hate speech, Anaba warned against letting judicial decisions override the sovereign will of voters.
He called on editors to uphold rigorous verification, independence, and courage, noting that despite severe economic pressures facing newsrooms, holding power accountable remains an uncompromisable civic responsibility.
Anaba also announced that the conference marks his final welcome address as NGE President ahead of the Guild’s upcoming biennial elective conference.
Echoing the urgency of the moment, the Chairman of the occasion, His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, described democracy as “a fire lit to keep the house warm” that must be tended continuously.
The monarch highlighted the existential threat posed by AI-generated deepfakes, synthetic voice clones, and targeted disinformation ahead of election cycles. Igwe Achebe urged the Guild to establish a joint “Election Rapid Response Desk” to fact-check viral falsehoods in real time, while challenging editors to prioritise verification over speed and actively foster media literacy across all strata of society.
In a comprehensive keynote address, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, interrogated the structural deficiencies of Nigeria’s electoral and governance systems. Cardinal Onaiyekan outlined a seven-point reform agenda for future legislative sessions, advocating for an independent appointment process for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), specialised election tribunals to resolve all disputes prior to swearing-in ceremonies, the introduction of independent candidacy, and a mandatory 50 percent minimum vote threshold for presidential declarations.
He reminded the media of its constitutional mandate as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, urging journalists to operate with professional autonomy and resist external financial or political pressures.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Information—represented by Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)—underscored the sub-theme: “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Misinformation Before, During, and After Elections.”
The Minister highlighted recent economic and infrastructural reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, including the Electoral Act amendments signed into law in February 2026. The government urged editors to embed verification deep into newsroom culture, warning that the ultimate danger of AI-driven misinformation is not merely that citizens believe a lie, but that they lose faith in truth and public institutions altogether.
Serving as chief host, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, welcomed over 300 editors to the state, framing the relationship between government and the press as a shared commitment to public service and truth. Responding to economic discussions, Mbah clarified that elected officials hold land and resources purely in trust for the populace.
He outlined Enugu State’s ongoing socio-economic transformation—spanning over 1,500 kilometres of road construction, 7,000 classrooms, Type 2 primary healthcare centres across all 260 electoral wards, urban water restoration, and aviation expansion—inviting the press to apply rigorous, evidence-based scrutiny to both government successes and shortcomings.
