Former Imo NUJ Treasurer, Ms Opara Inducted as Member Nigerian Guild of Editors

A former Treasurer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo Council, Ms Chidi Opara has been inducted as a member of the Nigeria Guild of Editors in the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2026 held in Enugu.

The conference held at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Okpara Square Road, Independence, Layout, Enugu between Sept. 23 to Sept. 27 has the theme “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive” with Sub-Theme “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”

Opara who is currently the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja was inducted alongside other Editors including Mohammed Baba Busu, also a Deputy Editor-in-Chief of NAN, Olalekan Adetayo, Editor, Punch Digital, and Lilian Okonkwo-Ogabu Director of News and Current Affairs, Rivers Television and others.

The Vice-President of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima, who declared the conference open stated that Nigeria’s democratic journey owes much to journalists.

He acknowledged that the media earned its place as the fourth estate by performing a crucial duty no democracy can survive without.

He commended the editors and journalists who according to him have insisted that the public deserved to know, often at considerable personal cost.

Shetima also urged the media leaders to hold the government accountable while also objectively reporting national progress.

The Enugu State Governor and the Chief Host, Dr Peter Mbah stated that the government and the media must view each other as co-authors of Nigeria’s future rather than operating from a place of constant confrontation.

He emphasised that the government must remain transparent and accountable for its results, while the press holds the duty to establish facts and report the truth, whether it highlights progress or exposes failure.

Welcoming over 300 editors, the governor described the developmental changes occurring in Enugu as one of the fastest and most ambitious sub-national transformations in modern Nigeria, pointing to solid infrastructure built to expand the state’s economy.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, who is the chairman of the occasion in his Keynote address
urged Nigeria editors to uphold responsible election reporting through verification, digital literacy and fact-checking as artificial intelligence he said makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish false information from reality.

He described democracy as a system that must be continuously protected, likening it to a fire that must be tended, fed and protected to remain alive.

Achebe said that the ballot represents the voice of citizens, while the media serves as the mirror through which citizens understand the issues on which they must make electoral choices.

“When the mirror is cracked, or worse, deliberately distorted, the citizen no longer votes from truth but from illusion,” he said.

The emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan in his Keynote Address highlighted the declining quality of elections.

He noted that since 1999, the overall quality and credibility of elections in Nigeria have seemingly deteriorated rather than improved.

He called for Electoral Integrity, challenging politicians, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the media to actively protect citizens’ votes and ensure credible outcomes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC), Peter Obi, in his goodwill message urged editors across the country to scrutinise the qualifications and past records of politicians seeking public office.

He also urged them to use their position in society to hold politicians accountable and demand excellence from those seeking public office.

“Editors must continue to scrutinise the qualifications and past records of those seeking public office, expose past wrong doings and ensure that the Nigerian people have access to the information they need to make informed decisions,” he said.

“I also emphasised the need for editors to use their privileged position in society to hold us politicians accountable, investigate our records and demand excellence from all of us contesting to become Excellencies,” he said.

Obi said the conference provided an opportunity for him to interact with participants during a question-and-answer session and listen to their views on the state of democracy and the role of the media.

Speaking on the topic “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance”, Prof. Chinyere Okunna identified the key roles of the journalist to include watchdog, framing, gate keeping, status conferal and agenda Setting.

She said journalists are expected to be neutral and not indifferent or silent over national issues describing ethics as the cornerstone of journalism practice.

According to her, Election Security is the sanctity, credibility, and acceptability of election as well as the security of the media personnel covering the election while neutrality she said, involves balancing the story.

Other papers presented are “Election Petitions in Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts” handled by Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) and former President, Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) and “Terrorism without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists” delivered by Mr Martin’s Oloja, former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian.

In his welcome address, the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba, urged journalists to protect the credibility of the ballot and defend democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said that the media shares a profound responsibility to ensure democratic survival by keeping voters accurately informed.

He said that the credibility of the ballot must be fiercely protected so that election outcomes genuinely reflect the people’s choice, reducing the burden on courts to decide political representation.

Anaba emphasised that political actors are not solely in charge of Nigeria’s democracy, and that both the media and the judiciary play critical, active roles in strengthening and sustaining the system.

The highlight of the programme was the tour of some striking projects of the Enugu state government and the confirment of Fellow to four deserving members of the Guild.