RismadarVoice Reporters
September 26, 2026
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian editors to thoroughly scrutinise the qualifications, backgrounds and records of politicians seeking public office ahead of the 2027 general election.
Obi made the call following his participation in the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu.
The conference, themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” brought together editors and other stakeholders to examine the media’s role in Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement on Saturday, Obi said editors should use their position to hold political leaders and candidates accountable and provide citizens with information relevant to making electoral decisions.
“Editors must continue to scrutinise the qualifications and records of those seeking public office, expose past wrongdoings and ensure that the Nigerian people have access to the information they need to make informed decisions,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said the media should investigate the records of politicians and question those seeking public office about their backgrounds, qualifications, policies and previous performance.
“In my remarks, I called on our editors to continue to reinforce their role as bulwarks protecting our democracy,” Obi said.
He also urged editors to hold politicians directly accountable rather than allowing candidates to rely on aides, relatives or supporters to respond to questions concerning their records.
During his address at the conference, Obi called for issue-based political campaigns centred on governance, security, national unity and economic prosperity rather than personal attacks and name-calling.
“I also emphasised the need for editors to use their privileged position in society to hold us politicians accountable, investigate our records and demand excellence from all of us contesting to become Excellencies,” he said.
Obi said his participation in a question-and-answer session at the conference also provided an opportunity to hear the perspectives of editors on Nigeria’s democracy and the responsibilities of the media.
He thanked the Nigerian Guild of Editors for the invitation and reiterated his position that political candidates should be subjected to scrutiny as Nigerians prepare for the 2027 elections.
“A New Nigeria is Possible, and Nigeria will be OK,” Obi said.
