Appeal Court Upholds Conviction of Professor Who Rigged Election for Akpabio
In a ruling that echoes a strong warning against corruption in Nigeria’s academic and electoral systems, the Court of Appeal in Calabar has upheld the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, a University of Calabar lecturer who was found guilty of tampering with election results to favour Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Ogban, a professor of soil science and the returning officer in the 2019 senatorial election for Akwa Ibom North-West, was originally sentenced to three years in prison by a State High Court in Uyo. The Appeal Court affirmed the verdict on Wednesday, condemning not only his actions but also expressing dismay that someone of his academic standing would descend so low into electoral malpractice.
A lawyer who participated in the case said the appellate court was particularly disturbed by the professor’s betrayal of public trust. “A professor should stand for integrity, not fraud,” the lawyer remarked. “Ogban disgraced both the university system and Nigeria’s fragile democracy.”
The rigging wasn’t just a minor mistake it was deliberate fraud. Professor Ogban had admitted in court that he manipulated results in Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo local government areas to give the APC candidate, Akpabio, an edge over his opponent. In one instance, over 5,000 fake votes were added to the APC tally.
At the time, Akpabio, who had recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, was desperate to retain his senatorial seat. Despite the rigging attempt, he was defeated by Chris Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom. Akpabio, however, made a political comeback in 2023 and is now Senate President.
This case wasn’t just about one man’s crime it exposed the dangerous collusion between political desperation and academic betrayal. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deserves commendation for prosecuting Ogban, the case also raises serious questions about how many other compromised individuals are still working within the system.
Adding to the concern is the fact that Ogban isn’t alone. Another university professor, Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo, was also convicted for election fraud. Uduk, who served as a returning officer in the Essien Udim State Constituency election in 2019, was found guilty of announcing false results and committing perjury. He too received a three-year jail sentence, although he was recently granted bail.
Both professors were tied to cases involving APC candidates closely linked to Akpabio, a pattern too glaring to ignore.
Critics say these convictions are only scratching the surface of a deeper rot. They argue that until there is widespread reform within INEC and the Nigerian university system, dishonest actors will continue to sell the nation’s democracy for a price.
For now, the Court of Appeal’s judgment stands as a rare but welcome moment of accountability. But the real test lies in whether Nigeria will clean up the system or wait for the next scandal to erupt.
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Appeal Court Upholds Conviction of Professor Who Rigged Election for Akpabio