The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called for major changes to Nigeria’s electoral system, including a constitutional provision requiring presidential candidates to secure at least 50 per cent of votes cast or face a run-off.
The editors also want electoral disputes to be resolved within clearly defined timelines, preferably before candidates declared winners are sworn into office.
The recommendations were contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2026), held in Enugu from September 24 to 26.
The conference, which focused on the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” attracted more than 500 editors, publishers, senior media practitioners and other stakeholders from across the country.
The communiqué was signed by the President and General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh.
The Guild also called for reforms to the process of appointing the Chairman, National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as State Electoral Commissioners
The NGE said Nigeria should consider an appropriate constitutional threshold that would require a presidential candidate to obtain up to 50 per cent of votes cast to win outright.
Where no candidate reaches the required threshold, the Guild proposed that a run-off should be conducted to determine the eventual winner.
According to the editors, such a system could strengthen the legitimacy of presidential election results and improve public confidence in the democratic process.
The Guild also expressed concern about the lengthy period often required to settle electoral disputes after elections.
It therefore advocated clearly defined timelines for the determination of election petitions, preferably before the inauguration of candidates declared winners.
The editors said prolonged legal battles over election outcomes could create uncertainty and fuel public concerns about whether the result announced at the polling units ultimately reflects the outcome recognised after judicial proceedings.
However, the NGE stressed that its position should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary.
Instead, it called for electoral adjudication that is timely, transparent, predictable and impartial, while ensuring that genuine complaints and electoral irregularities receive proper judicial attention.
The growing use of artificial intelligence was another major concern raised during the conference, particularly with Nigeria heading towards the 2027 general elections.
The editors identified generative AI, deepfakes, voice cloning and automated networks among the technologies that could be used to manipulate electoral information and mislead voters.
They warned that fabricated election results, fake documents, manipulated result sheets and artificially generated audio or video recordings of public figures could spread rapidly across social media and other digital platforms.
The Guild noted that the danger could extend beyond individual false reports, as the widespread circulation of fabricated material could make it increasingly difficult for citizens to distinguish between authentic information and deliberately manufactured content.
It consequently urged media organisations to strengthen their fact-checking and verification systems.
Newsrooms, according to the editors, should also invest in digital verification tools, deepfake detection systems and other forensic technologies capable of helping journalists establish the authenticity of information before publication.
The safety of journalists covering elections also featured prominently in the conference discussions.
The Guild said election security should not be limited to protecting voters and electoral officials but must also include journalists working at polling stations, collation centres and other election-related locations.
It called on security agencies and political actors to ensure that journalists can perform their duties without intimidation, harassment, attacks or unnecessary restrictions.
The NGE further urged government and political actors to provide equitable access to media platforms for both government and opposition voices while respecting the independence of news organisations and their editorial decisions.
The editors called on INEC to continue conducting nationwide election-readiness assessments as preparations for future elections intensify.
They also urged the commission to strengthen partnerships around cybersecurity and electoral technology while ensuring that systems deployed during elections remain secure and reliable.
Particular attention, the Guild said, should be paid to the integrity of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The editors maintained that the use of technology in elections must be accompanied by adequate human oversight, transparency and accountability, as well as mechanisms for legal verification where disputes arise.
They also stressed the importance of protecting the institutional independence of the electoral commission.
The conference also examined the challenges facing journalists reporting terrorism and other security-related incidents.
While acknowledging the media’s responsibility to keep citizens informed about terrorist attacks, the Guild warned that careless reporting could unintentionally provide publicity for terrorist organisations, assist recruitment efforts or interfere with security operations.
The editors therefore endorsed the principle, Inform, Don’t Amplify.
Under the approach, news organisations are expected to report terrorist claims carefully and identify them as unverified until they are independently confirmed.
The Guild also cautioned against unnecessarily reproducing terrorist propaganda, recruitment messages, slogans or other materials that could aid extremist communication.
It stressed that terrorism should be reported accurately and responsibly without turning news coverage into a platform for terrorist organisations.
The NGE reaffirmed the media’s responsibility to provide accurate, independent and verified information while holding governments, political parties and other centres of power accountable.
However, the Guild said responsible journalism should not amount to deliberately ignoring legitimate achievements by governments.
It called for evidence-based reporting that neither exaggerates failures nor conceals verifiable accomplishments.
The editors also reaffirmed their commitment to the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage (Revised 2022) and encouraged media organisations to adopt the code and train journalists and editorial staff ahead of the 2027 elections.
The code was endorsed by major industry bodies, including the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union and Guild of Corporate Online Publishers.
The three-day conference featured contributions from several prominent figures in law, journalism, academia and public affairs.
Former Nigerian Bar Association President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, spoke on election petitions in the digital age.
Professor Auwalu H. Yadudu of Bayero University, Kano, examined the relationship between public trust, electoral justice and democratic stability.
Former Guardian Newspapers Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Martin Oloja, addressed the challenges of terrorism reporting and the responsibilities of the media.
Other speakers included Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna, Professor Farooq A. Kperogi and Dr Richard Okoye, who addressed issues ranging from election security and artificial intelligence-generated disinformation to the wellbeing of journalists.
The conference was chaired by the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, while John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, delivered the keynote address.
Vice President Kashim Shettima participated virtually as Special Guest of Honour, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah served as Chief Host.
At the end of the conference, the NGE said the survival and credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depend largely on an electoral system in which citizens can make informed choices, vote freely and trust that their votes will be properly counted and respected.
The Guild also expressed appreciation to the Enugu State Government and other stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference.
