Tinubu, Governors, Sultan Storm Abuja for Editors’ Gathering

By: Akinde S. Oluwaseun

All roads lead to Abuja today. Big names. Big conversations. The 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference is here — and the city’s already buzzing.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to open the two-day event, joined by state governors, ministers, media heavyweights, and top diplomats. The venue? State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa. Formal, but the energy—palpable.

A statement signed on Tuesday by the Guild’s President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, said over 500 editors will gather under one roof. It’s a crowd of decision-makers, storytellers, and headline builders.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, will chair one session, while Prince Nduka Obaigbena — the man behind ThisDay and Arise News — takes another. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma steps up as keynote speaker. Not a small lineup at all.

From Zamfara to Kano, Plateau to Nasarawa, governors Dauda Lawal, Caleb Mutfwang, Abba Yusuf, and Abdullahi Sule are all expected. Familiar faces from government corridors and media circles are also in town: Segun Osoba, Onyema Ugochukwu, Femi Adesina, and Garba Shehu. Yes, the whole old guard is back.

The theme this year says it all — “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors.” A heavy one. There’s also a sub-theme: “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit — What Nigerians Expect in 2027.” Translation? A lot of honest talk about democracy, elections, and that thing we all keep searching for — trust.

According to the Guild, discussions will go beyond speeches. Editors will dig into how journalism shapes national unity and how to keep democracy standing strong, even when politics gets messy.