ABUJA, Nigeria – Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied claims that a convicted Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official, Professor Peter Ogban, manipulated election results in his favour during the 2019 senatorial election in Akwa Ibom North-West.
In a statement issued by his media aide Aniete Ekong on Thursday, May 1, 2025, Akpabio described the allegations as “unfounded, spurious, malicious,” and part of a continuing effort to tarnish his image.
“This was after he was found guilty of fraudulent manipulation of the election results of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District held on February 23, 2019,” Ekong said, referencing Ogban’s conviction.
“Contrarily, Akpabio was a victim of the fraudulent manipulation.”
Ogban, a professor of soil science at the University of Calabar, was sentenced to three years in prison by an Akwa Ibom State High Court in 2021 for altering results to the disadvantage of the actual winner.
Ekong argued that Akpabio could not have benefited from the manipulation, as he had in fact challenged the election results at the National Assembly Election Tribunal, alleging that his valid votes, especially from Essien Udim Local Government Area, were wrongfully cancelled.
“In that election, Akpabio’s votes totaling about 61,329 scored at his home Local Government Area – Essien Udim – having been collated, were not announced by Ogban in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” the statement said.
“Rather, Ogban joined the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Uyo, where the votes and scores of Akpabio were cancelled.”
Following legal proceedings, the Court of Appeal ordered a rerun election in Essien Udim LGA, a move which Akpabio’s camp says vindicated their claims of electoral malpractice.
“Sentencing Ogban had vindicated Akpabio and the APC that the election was massively rigged,” Ekong added.
“It is the height of mischief for anyone to say that a man who arbitrarily cancelled lawfully collated votes of the APC and announced PDP winner of the election was working for Akpabio.”
He stressed that Akpabio was never declared the winner by Ogban, but rather lost the initial contest, which was subsequently overturned by the courts.
Akpabio’s rebuttal follows renewed public scrutiny over the conviction of Ogban, whose case has resurfaced in the political discourse ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senate President, Ekong noted, “has since moved on” and is focused on his legislative duties, urging those peddling false narratives to allow the past rest.
“In due time, we believe all the conspirators will be brought to justice as Ogban [was], either through the judiciary or divine intervention,” the statement concluded.
