NGE Demands 50% Presidential Threshold, Pre-Inauguration Resolution of Election Disputes

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is advocating for significant electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. At the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2026) held in Enugu, the NGE called for a constitutional requirement that presidential candidates must secure at least 50% of the votes cast to be declared the winner.

The Guild also emphasized the need to resolve any electoral disputes before the inauguration of declared winners. These demands were outlined in the conference's final communiqué, signed by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh.

The ANEC 2026 conference, themed "The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive," brought together more than 500 media practitioners, political and traditional leaders to discuss challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral democracy. Vice President Kashim Shettima participated virtually, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah served as the Chief Host.

The Guild attributed voter apathy to factors like poor governance, electoral violence, and misinformation. They stressed the importance of maintaining judicial independence while advocating for a transparent and impartial electoral adjudication system. The NGE proposed a constitutional threshold for presidential candidates and urged reforms in the appointment process for INEC officials, including the Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners.

The Guild also warned about the growing threat of artificial intelligence in election-related misinformation and called for newsrooms to implement robust fact-checking and verification systems. They urged journalists to uphold the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage (Revised 2022) and promote evidence-based journalism that respects both verified achievements and failures without bias.