The Nigerian Guild of Editors has cautioned politicians ahead of the 2027 general election to stop trading insults and personal attacks, urging them to focus instead on governance and the well-being of Nigerians.
The Standing Committee of the Guild issued the warning in a communiqué released on Sunday after its meeting held on September 17, 2025, in Jos, Plateau State. The document was signed by NGE President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh.
“The conduct of politicians is worrisome, whether in government or the opposition. They should desist from personal attacks and name-calling. They should address issues of governance and proffer solutions,” the Guild said.
“Careless talks heat up the polity, incite people, instigate crises and are capable of causing breach of peace and security of the nation. This should stop forthwith.”
The Guild reminded elected officials at the federal, state, and local government levels that their mandate was to deliver good governance, not to prioritise discussions about future polls.
“The main purpose of governance is to address fundamental issues bordering on citizens’ socio-economic well-being and security. Politicians must stop talking about future elections when they have not fulfilled their social contract in the subsisting term of office,” it warned.
The caution came amid rising political permutations ahead of 2027. Only a day earlier, former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, had urged stakeholders to deliberately raise and support quality leadership for the next general election, insisting that Nigeria’s challenges required men and women of “character, integrity, and competence.”
Beyond electoral politics, the Guild condemned the abuse of the Cybercrime Act by law enforcement agencies, especially the police, to “harass, intimidate, arrest and illegally detain journalists.” It vowed to use all legal means to protect press freedom and called for a thorough review of the law to ensure it was applied strictly for its original purpose — tackling cybercrime, financial fraud, and identity theft.
The editors also urged security agencies to respect the Ombudsman process instituted by the Nigerian Press Organisation as a credible platform for addressing infractions of journalism ethics, rather than turning security agencies into “a tool of oppression, intimidation and harassment.”
The body further called on journalists to uphold professionalism by strictly adhering to the Code of Ethics, and pressed the Federal Government to be more proactive in addressing insecurity — including banditry, insurgency, kidnappings, and herder-farmer clashes — to save lives and ensure food security.
The Guild expressed appreciation to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, for hosting its meeting.
Credit: punchng.com
