The Court of Appeal in Calabar, Cross River State, has upheld the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, a lecturer at the University of Calabar, for his role in manipulating the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, confirmed the earlier judgment by the Akwa Ibom High Court in Ikot Ekpene, which found Ogban guilty of falsifying election results to benefit Godswill Akpabio, the current Senate President.
Ogban, who served as the returning officer for the election, was sentenced to three years in prison for altering results in favor of Akpabio, who had contested the election as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The court also strongly criticized Ogban’s actions, emphasizing the gravity of his misconduct, especially given his position as a professor entrusted with ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
The case was part of broader efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold individuals accountable for electoral fraud. Ogban’s conviction came after a thorough investigation led by Barrister Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, which also resulted in the prosecution of another academic, Professor Ignatius Uduk. Uduk, from the University of Uyo, was similarly sentenced to three years in prison for his role in election result manipulation during the 2019 elections in the Essien Udim State Constituency. In addition to his prison sentence, Uduk was also fined N100,000, a further penalty highlighting the severity of his actions.
Adding to the significance of the case, it marks the second high-profile conviction of Nigerian professors involved in election fraud, following Uduk’s sentencing. While Uduk’s case had faced delays and legal battles, including accusations of bias against the presiding judge, both professors were found guilty of manipulating results to favor candidates affiliated with Akpabio’s political camp.
In the wake of the ruling, Akpabio, who has consistently denied any involvement in the malpractice, has yet to comment on the appellate court’s decision. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat electoral fraud in Nigeria, particularly involving public figures in positions of trust, such as university professors.
