The court of appeal in Calabar has upheld the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban for fraud and manipulation of election results
Professor Ogban served as the returning officer in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial Election and was accused of attempting to rig the elections in favour of Godswill Akpabio.
He was convicted in 2021 by an Akwa Ibom State High Court after Mike Igini, who served as INEC resident electoral commissioner initiated his prosecution
In 2021, Professor Peter Ogban, the INEC returning officer in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North West District senatorial election was found guilty of manipulation of election results and sentenced to three years in prison.
Ogban’s conviction was a landmark in the prosecution of high profile officials involved in election rigging
Few years later, in February 2025, his colleague, another professor, Ignatius Uduk was also found guilty and sentenced for his role in manipulating results in the same election
The 2019 election that led to the downfall of the two professors was a two horse race between senator Chris Ekpenyong of the PDP and current Senate President Godswill Akpabio of the APC.
Akpabio had lost the 2019 election largely because the then INEC resident electoral commissioner for Akwa Ibom state Mike Igini stepped in to ensure the right thing is done.
Although both convicted professors were reported to be working in favour of Godswill Akpabio, who at the time was the minority leader in the senate, he had staunchly denied knowledge of their actions
Prof Ogban’s attempt to reverse his 2021 conviction was on Wednesday thrown out by the court of appeal, which affirmed the decisions of the Akwa Ibom state high court
Ogban had pleaded for mercy from the judge at his conviction, promising to be responsible and careful, but later filed the appeal which has now been dismissed
The appellate court’s justice reaffirmed that the conduct of the University of Calabar professor of soil science was a grave misconduct and a breach of his pledge of integrity
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
