• Eze Anaba

All is set for the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) holding tomorrow in Abuja.

Expected at the two-day conference are President Bola Tinubu, who will declare it open at State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, Abuja, governors, media leaders, members of the diplomatic corps,the academia and other dignitaries.

NGE President, Eze Anaba and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, said that no fewer than 500 editors from across the country will attend the conference.

The Guild said that Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Arise New and This Day newspaper, will be Chairman of conference, while Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, will be keynote speaker.

The statement said that Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), among others, are also billed for the conference.

Media leaders, the likes of Chief Segun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Mr. Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to the President (Muhammadu Buhari) on Media and Publicity; Mallam Garba Shehu, Special Assistant to the President (Muhammadu Buhari) on Media and Publicity; Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the National Coordinator of EITI implementation in Nigeria; and Mr. Ukpe Anietie, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, among others, are billed to attend the conference.

Publishers/Chairmen, Board of Directors of newspapers, Managing Directors/ Editors-in-Chief from newspaper and broadcast organizations, Chairmen of media organisation’s Editorial Boards, and top editors are already in Abuja for the conference, the Guild said.

With a theme, “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” and sub-theme: “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027,” the conference will examine the role of editors in promoting democratic governance and national cohesion, discuss challenges and opportunities facing editors in promoting democratic values and national cohesion and identify best practices and strategies for editors to promote democratic governance and national cohesion, the Guild said.

The statement said that Prof Awa Kalu, eminent lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Managing Partner, Awa Kalu & Partners, will address the conference.

Awa Kalu will speak on “Election Disputes and Judicial Integrity: Navigating the Thin Line Between Law and Politics, while Prof Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, HOD, Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja, will take the stage thereafter to speak on: ” State of the Nation: Imperative of Economic and Political Reforms in Challenged Nation.”

On the second day of the conference on November 13, 2025 at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, former Chief of Defence State, Gen Lucky Irabor, will speak on “Media, Terrorism, and National Security: Addressing the Complexities, ” while Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean, School of Post-Graduate Studies, Baze University, Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, will talk about “The Evolving Face of Journalism: Battling Misinformation, AI Disruption, and Credibility Gap.

“The NGE said that there will be an Executive Session on the second day of the conference, where editors will interrogate government officials, political and business leaders.

The media professional body listed corporate organisations who are partners to include: Air Peace Airlines, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, as well as the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, among others.

Another senator elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jarigbe’s defection was formally announced on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday through a letter read by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.

In his letter, the lawmaker explained that his exit from the PDP followed months of internal crises and irreconcilable divisions that had crippled the party both at the national and state levels.

“I rise to formally notify you and the distinguished leadership of the Senate of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, on whose platform I was elected to represent the good people of Cross River North Senatorial District,” Jarigbe wrote.

“The decision came after deep and thoughtful reflection on the current state of my former party.

“It is with regret that I note the persistent and deep-seated divisions and the deliberate factionalisation at both the national and state levels as the primary reasons for my departure.

”Jarigbe said he decided to align with the ruling party to continue delivering effective representation to his constituents.

“In the light of the foregoing, and in the best interest of my constituents, I have chosen to join the All Progressives Congress,” he added.

“I believe that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the steady guidance of the National Assembly, the APC provides a stable and progressive platform to deliver the democratic dividends expected by the people of Cross River North.”

Following the announcement, Barau welcomed Jarigbe into the party, saying, “You are most welcome. Please welcome him,” as senators across party lines applauded.

Jarigbe’s defection further strengthens the APC’s grip on Cross River State, where all three senatorial seats are now occupied by members of the ruling party.

The other two senators from the state are Eteng Williams (Cross River Central) and Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).

His defection also increased the number of APC senators to 76, PDP 25, Labour Party 4, APGA 2, SDP 1, and NNPP 1, totalling 109.

His move comes amid renewed turmoil within the PDP, which has been engulfed in a leadership crisis that has split the party into two factions.

The rift pits loyalists of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum against a group allied with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The party’s internal conflict deepened after a Federal High Court in Abuja halted its planned national convention, initially scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Nigerian serving Federal lawmaker, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has thrown his weight strongly in support of United States military action in Nigeria to wipe out jihadist terrorists in the country.

Speaking to Journalists shortly before Tuesday’s plenary, the Senator who currently represents Abia North backs the President of the United States, Donald Trump when he said “he spoke the truth” about the mindless killings by Jihadists in Nigeria.

“Nigerians are being killed whether they’re Christians or Muslims. Are they not being killed? He asked.

The former Chief Whip said the terrorists are Nigeria’s common mortal enemies whose major objective is to destabilize and destroy the country and should be stopped by all means necessary -including using U.S military action to “smoke them out”.

Kanu told reporters that he has been in talks with two former US Presidents and at least 60 Senators regarding Trump’s military threat and that they’ve all promised to support Nigeria’s combat terrorists in the country.

Kanu further noted that Trump couldn’t have been flippant with his words,.

He pointed out that the American Intelligence community must have identified their specific targets, warning it’s wasn’t the time to show any form of pity towards terrorists.

He recalled how he dealt with armed militia group, Bakassi Boys when he served as Governor.

Commenting on the chances of the ruling All Progressives Congress at the polls in 2027, Kalu waved off the existence of any opposition political party that can wrest power from the party, predicting a walk over victory for President Bola Tinubu.