More than 500 editors and other stakeholders in Nigeria's media and political space are expected to converge on Enugu in September for the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The two-day conference will take place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu, on September 24 and 25, with discussions expected to centre on the future of democracy, electoral integrity and the growing threat of artificial intelligence-driven disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The conference is themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” while its sub-theme is “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”
The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, will chair the conference.
In a statement signed by the NGE President and General Secretary, Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, respectively, the Guild said the annual gathering would provide a platform for editors, media leaders and other stakeholders to critically examine the challenges facing democracy and determine how the media could help protect credible elections and democratic values.
The opening ceremony on September 24 will feature former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, as keynote speaker. He is expected to deliver his address at 2pm.
Prof. Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, will also speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.”
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, is scheduled to address participants on the first day.
The conference will also examine the complex relationship between journalism, terrorism and national security. Ombudsman and Public Protector of ThisDay Newspapers, Kayode Komolafe, and veteran journalist and civil rights campaigner, Owei Lakemfa, will jointly present a paper titled “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”
The second day will open with a presentation by the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, who will speak on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”
The presentation, scheduled for 9am, will focus on the evolving legal and technological dimensions of election disputes, including the role of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and digital evidence.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, will address the issue of media professionalism and electoral security in a paper titled “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance.”
Journalists' welfare will also feature prominently, with Dr Richard Okoye, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, speaking on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing.”
One of the major sessions will focus on the emerging dangers posed by artificial intelligence to the information ecosystem.
Prof. Farooq A. Kperogi, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, will lead the discussion on how journalists can identify, verify and debunk AI-generated disinformation before, during and after elections.
The conference will further feature an Executive Session at 12:30pm on the second day, during which editors will engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance.
The NGE said the conference was coming at a critical period when democracy was facing new challenges from misinformation, declining public trust, electoral disputes and technological disruption of the information space.
It said the gathering would enable media leaders to develop strategies for ensuring that journalism remained responsible, responsive and relevant in promoting public accountability and democratic stability.
The Guild added that the discussions would also explore ways of strengthening the media's contribution to national development and nation-building.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the Enugu conference is expected to provide an important forum for editors to assess the media's role in protecting the integrity of the electoral process while confronting the increasingly sophisticated methods being used to manipulate public opinion.
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