A coalition of 56 prominent Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has called for the immediate resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio following the Court of Appeal’s upholding of the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban for electoral fraud.
The appellate court, sitting in Calabar, confirmed Ogban’s three-year prison sentence after finding him guilty of falsifying election results during the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial election. The fraud was reportedly aimed at securing Akpabio’s victory as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a joint statement issued on Monday, the CSOs expressed deep concern over the legitimacy of Akpabio’s mandate. They pointed out that the judicial confirmation of electoral manipulation raises serious questions about the credibility of the election that brought him to the Senate. The groups argued that any such development in a democracy demands immediate accountability from political leaders.
While Akpabio has denied any direct involvement in the fraud, the conviction of Ogban, who declared him the winner, has cast a shadow over the integrity of his election. The CSOs called on Akpabio to step aside to restore public confidence in the democratic process.
“This issue goes beyond one individual—it’s about safeguarding public trust in our electoral system,” the CSOs stated. “Allowing the Senate President to remain in office under such ethical doubts risks undermining democratic values and sets a dangerous precedent for the 2027 elections.”
The groups also questioned Akpabio’s eligibility to have contested the 2023 elections and taken the position of Senate President, given his confirmed role as a beneficiary of electoral fraud in the 2019 election. They asked whether he had the legal or moral standing to hold such a position, considering his previous involvement in a manipulated election that he never fully served due to his later appointment as Minister of Niger Delta.
The CSOs commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially Mike Igini, the former Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), for leading the investigation and prosecution of the case. They urged INEC, the National Assembly, and the judiciary to take this judgment as a call to enhance mechanisms that prevent electoral fraud at all levels.
Additionally, the coalition called on the APC leadership to demonstrate a commitment to electoral reform and democratic accountability by initiating a rerun or revalidation process for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat.
“The judiciary has done its part. Now it’s time for the political leadership to show that no one is above the law—not even the Senate President,” the groups concluded.
