The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar has upheld the conviction of Peter Ogban, a professor of soil science at the University of Uyo, who was earlier sentenced to three years in prison for election fraud in favour of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The court dismissed Ogban’s appeal and affirmed the verdict of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, which had in March 2021 found him guilty of manipulating election results during the 2019 National Assembly polls. Ogban was convicted for altering results to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godswill Akpabio, who was then contesting for a senatorial seat.
The appellate court ruled that the trial court acted within the law and that the evidence presented by the prosecution, led by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was overwhelming.
Ogban was found to have deliberately falsified results from the Essien Udim Local Government Area, where Akpabio hails from, thereby undermining the credibility of the electoral process. Despite his academic stature, the court said Ogban’s actions were a betrayal of public trust and an affront to democratic values.
The ruling marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s legal and electoral history, underscoring the judiciary’s resolve to hold individuals accountable for electoral malpractice, regardless of status or affiliation.
