The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on the Federal and state governments to provide an enabling environment for all political parties and their candidates to campaign freely and fairly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Guild also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other agencies involved in preparations for the elections to ensure a level playing field for all political parties, including the ruling and opposition parties, without bias or discrimination.
The NGE made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its Standing Committee meeting held in Kano on Friday, September 11, 2026, and signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh.
It specifically urged the Federal and state governments to allow the lawful outdoor display of party symbols and the airing of campaign slogans, stressing that a free and fair campaign environment was essential to public confidence, trust and electoral integrity.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors, which is the highest professional group for journalists in the country, also called on politicians and political parties to focus their campaigns on issues, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and adhere strictly to the rules governing political campaigns as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
The editors expressed concern over the increasing violations of press freedom, including the harassment, intimidation and prosecution of journalists by security agencies. They were particularly concerned about the use of cybercrime legislation and other laws in ways that could undermine legitimate journalistic practice. It, therefore urged the media to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards in their reportage, with fairness, objectivity, accuracy and factuality serving as guiding principles.
It also called on governments at all levels and members of the public to respect freedom of the press, which it described as a fundamental pillar of democracy and good governance.
The NGE urged aggrieved individuals and organisations to engage constructively with the media and channel their complaints through the Media Ombudsman established jointly by the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), NGE, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), rather than resorting to threats, intimidation or violence against journalists and media organisations.
The Standing Committee expressed appreciation to the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, as well as the government and people of Kano State, for creating an enabling environment for the meeting and for their hospitality.The Guild reaffirmed that good governance, the welfare of the people, peace, progress and respect for democratic values remained essential pillars of a stable and prosperous society.
