Beneficiary Of Electoral Fraud Cannot Lead Senate — Civil Society Groups Urge Akpabio To Step Aside Over Prof. Ogban Conviction

Nearly 60 prominent civil society organizations (CSOs) across Nigeria have called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to temporarily vacate his position following the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of a three-year prison sentence for Professor Peter Ogban, who was convicted of manipulating the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial election in Akpabio’s favor.

In a joint statement led by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Chairman of Amnesty International Nigeria, the coalition expressed deep concern over the moral and ethical implications of Akpabio’s continued leadership of the Nigerian Senate. The groups argued that Ogban’s conviction fundamentally undermines the legitimacy of Akpabio’s 2019 mandate and casts a shadow over the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“The continued tenure of a beneficiary of electoral fraud at the helm of the Senate erodes public trust, sets a dangerous precedent, and risks normalizing manipulation ahead of the 2027 elections,” the statement read.

Professor Ogban, then the returning officer in the controversial senatorial contest, was found guilty of falsifying election results to declare Akpabio, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner. The conviction was based on overwhelming evidence, including testimonies and discrepancies flagged by Mike Igini, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, who has been widely praised for his principled stance and defense of electoral integrity.

While Akpabio has denied any direct involvement in the fraud, the CSOs maintain that his status as the primary beneficiary creates a moral deficit that disqualifies him, at least temporarily, from leading Nigeria’s highest legislative chamber. Rafsanjani stated: “Leadership demands integrity. If your election is tainted by proven fraud, stepping aside is the honorable thing to do.”

The coalition is not calling for Akpabio’s permanent resignation but is urging him to step aside pending the outcome of any further legal proceedings, including a possible appeal to the Supreme Court. Doing so, they argue, would signal a commitment to accountability, institutional integrity, and the rule of law.

In addition to the call for Akpabio to step aside, the CSOs urged the APC to review and revalidate the senatorial mandate in question. They also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead a new wave of comprehensive electoral reforms to strengthen the credibility of elections and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.

The statement also criticized the National Assembly’s growing intolerance for dissent, highlighting recent instances where lawmakers were threatened or suspended for challenging leadership. This, they warned, is detrimental to healthy democratic discourse.

More broadly, the CSOs pointed to systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s political system—such as the absence of ideological parties, impunity for electoral offenses, the marginalization of women and vulnerable groups, and political defections motivated by self-preservation rather than principle. These practices, they said, continue to weaken the foundations of democratic governance.

Rafsanjani cautioned that ignoring cases like Ogban’s could have dire consequences for future elections: “If we normalize fraudulent mandates, we risk descending into a state where individuals simply declare themselves winners—destroying democracy in the process.”

The coalition praised the judiciary for upholding the rule of law in Ogban’s case and commended Mike Igini for his exemplary conduct, calling him a model for all public officials committed to democratic values.