ANEC 2026: Enhancing Editors’ Capacity Towards 2027 Election Coverage
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The 2027 general elections are fast approaching with various stakeholders engaged in preparations towards a successful conduct of the polls.Such stakeholders include politicians,the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),the electorate and the media
The preparations include but not necessarily limited to meetings, campaigns, rallies, conferences and training workshops aimed at ensuring free, fair and credible elections.
Against this background, the Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE) dedicated its annual conference to conversations on how to enhance the capacity of its esteemed members, the Editors, to disseminate quality reports before, during and after the all-important polls.
Thus,on Wednesday, September 23,2026, the NGE under the leadership of Mr.Eze Anaba,convened a Conference of more than 350 Editors to deliberate on various issues involved in the coverage of the 2026 general elections.
With the Theme:”The Ballot, The Media And The Task Of Keeping Democracy Alive,” and the Sub-theme:”When Lies Look Real: Detecting And Debunking AI Misinformation,Before, During And After Election,” the 4-day Conference was chaired by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, and declared open by Vice President Kashim Shettima virtually from New York,United States of America.
To commence the business of the day,the President of the Guild, Mr. Eze Anaba, welcomed the participants and invited guests who gathered at the venue of the conference, the Dome International Confidence Centre, Enugu.
Going forward,Anaba urged editors to protect the credibility of the ballot and help keep Nigeria’s democracy alive as the country approached the 2027 general elections.
He said the media, alongside other critical institutions, have a responsibility to nurture democracy by ensuring that voters are adequately informed and electoral outcomes reflected the choices of the people.
According to him, the credibility of the ballot must be protected to prevent the courts from having to determine who should represent the people.
“The credibility of the ballot must be protected so that the courts do not have to replace the citizenry in determining who should represent the people,” the president said.
He also said that the ballot could only fulfil its purpose when voters have access to credible information and are able to make their choices freely, without intimidation or undue influence.
He, therefore,urged editors to uphold verification, independence, accuracy, fairness, accountability and courage, particularly in an era of social media, artificial intelligence, deepfakes and rapid dissemination of misinformation.
“As editors, we must remain above board in an increasingly polarised environment. We must not become agents of disorder. Neither should we display contradictory tendencies,” Anaba added.
In his remarks,Chief Host and Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, fondly referred to as “Tomorrow Is Here,” called on Nigerian editors and other media professionals to uphold the truth, credibility and professional responsibility as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.
Amid rousing ovations from editors, Mbah emphasised the central responsibility of the media in protecting democratic values, noting that reporters and editors occupy a critical position in shaping public understanding of government, elections and national issues.
The Governor also highlighted the importance of fact-checking, professional journalism and public trust, stressing the need for media practitioners to remain committed to accuracy and responsible reporting.
The Chairman of the Conference,Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, in his address,charged the editors to defend democracy by ensuring that citizens received accurate and verified information, particularly during elections.
Achebe said democracy requires constant protection and warned that the media had a critical role in keeping the ballot meaningful.
According to him,the ballot represents the voice of citizens, while the media serve as the mirror through which they understood the issues before making electoral choices.
He expressed concern over the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence-generated disinformation, noting that false information could now be produced within seconds with a level of realism capable of deceiving even trained observers.
The traditional ruler said fabricated voices, videos and images could be used to falsely portray politicians, invent incidents and inflame passions before elections.
He identified verification before speed, media literacy and courage as key responsibilities of editors, urging journalists to scrutinise suspicious content and educate citizens on how to identify manipulated information.
He said journalists also need the courage to debunk falsehoods regardless of the political interests they serve, stressing that integrity required correcting misinformation whether it benefited a political ally or opponent.
Achebe, however,acknowledged the economic pressures, political intimidation and rapid pace of the Nigerian media environment but expressed confidence in the profession’s capacity to confront the emerging challenges.
He urged the editors to use the conference as a platform to strengthen the defence of truth and democracy, saying they should remain committed to protecting the citizenry and democratic institutions even when other institutions failed.
Similarly,the keynote speaker, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, said the emergence of artificial intelligence had introduced new dangers into the communication environment.
According to Onaiyekan, modern technology could produce convincing synthetic voices, images and other forms of fabricated content capable of misleading citizens.
He warned that the spread of false information could damage the ability of citizens to distinguish truth from fabrication, and as such, it is imperative for journalists to combine professional freedom with responsibility and professionalism in using the growing range of media technologies.
He stressed the need for professional autonomy and urged journalists to resist pressures from those who fund or influence media organizations.
Onaiyekan also said that the emergence of social media and artificial intelligence had significantly expanded the media environment, creating both opportunities and challenges that require greater knowledge and skill.
Declaring the Conference open,Vice President Kashim Shettima observed that the media has earned its place as the Fourth Estate of the Realm because it performs a duty that no democracy can do without.
According to Shettima, Nigeria’s democratic journey owes much to journalists and editors who, sometimes at considerable personal costs, insisted that the public deserved to know.
He noted that as Nigeria approaches another election cycle, the responsibility of the media becomes even more consequential.
“The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,”could hardly be more timely. You interrogate power, inform citizens, shape public debate and preserve the institutional memory of our nation.
“That responsibility has become even more demanding in the age of artificial intelligence. Your Sub-Theme: “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election,” speaks directly to one of the defining challenges of our time.
“When technology can manufacture convincing falsehoods at unprecedented speed, professional journalism becomes more important, not less. The editor remains a crucial gatekeeper between information and manipulation,” he said.
The vice president said the ballot gives citizens a voice, but that voice can only be meaningful when citizens have access to credible information on which to make their choices.
He said as the media scrutinises government, it should continue telling the full story of our country, including where progress is being made.
Shettima then commended the Guild for sustaining this important platform and for choosing a subject that goes to the heart of the survival of our democracy.
The Conference which also featured paper presentations by media executives, academics and lawyers, as well as induction of new fellows and new members,ended on Saturday with a Project Tour and a Gala Night hosted by Governor Mbah(Tomorrow Is Here).