Nigerian Guild of Editors to kick start engagement with political actors ahead of 2023 poll

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Forum is set to kick start its maiden edition of interrogating political actors, electoral body, candidates for elections and other stakeholders ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Eaglesforesight reports that a statement by Mustapha Isah(President) and Iyobosa Uwugiaren (General Secretary) of the guild said the event is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Colonnades Hotel, 21 Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos by 6 pm.

The statement added that, in view of this, the body has mobilized members to be part of the event, adding that the guest speaker for that day is the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to entertain questions from editors on his policies, programmes, as well as the manifesto of his party.

Eaglesforesight further reports that the Guild in the statement said it believes that the forum offers candidates an opportunity to engage media leaders on details of their plans and programmes if elected into office.

‘The whole idea is for the media to put all the political actors and other stakeholders on their toes and provide the electorate with useful information to enable them make informed decisions before, during and after the 2023 general elections. Letters have been sent to many political actors to be part of this engagement’, the statement said.

Eaglesforesight also reports that, it is recalled that, one of the fundamental issues that featured prominently during the Editors’ Training Workshops and Town Hall Meetings, held across the six geo- political zones early this year, with the theme: ‘’Media And The Task of Consolidating Nigeria’s Democracy’’, was the need for Editors to thoroughly interrogate the democratic landscape.

‘This comprises the political actors: the electoral body, the candidates for elections, the security agencies, the political observers and the electorate, ahead of the 2023 general elections. To kick start the conversation, we wish to invite all members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to participate in the first edition of the Editors’ Forum on the 2023 general elections, which holds on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Colonnades Hotel, 21 Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos by 6 pm’, the statement emphasised.

‘The guest speaker for that day is the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. He is expected to entertain questions from editors on his policies, programmes, as well as the manifesto of his party’, the statement added .

Eaglesforesight reports that, the event which is at the instance of the Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE), and solely funded by the body, will offers candidates of various political parties, opportunity to engage media leaders on details of their plans and programmes if elected into office.