From Power To Pressure: Akpabio Faces Resignation Calls As Civil Groups React To Fraud Conviction!

A coalition of 56 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.

This demand follows the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, which upheld the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban for manipulating election results in favour of Akpabio during the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial election.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday in Calabar, the appellate court affirmed Ogban’s three-year prison sentence. The court found him guilty of falsifying election outcomes to secure victory for Akpabio, then a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In response, the coalition of CSOs issued a joint statement on Monday, describing the ruling as a major blow to the credibility of Akpabio’s mandate. “The confirmation that the election was manipulated raises grave concerns about the legitimacy of Senator Akpabio’s tenure in the Senate,” the statement read.

While Akpabio has denied any involvement in wrongdoing, the CSOs argued that the conviction of the INEC official responsible for announcing his victory calls into question the integrity of his position as Senate President. They urged Akpabio to resign, citing the need to protect democratic values and restore public confidence in the electoral system.

“This issue transcends one individual. It’s about upholding public trust and ensuring the sanctity of our democratic process,” the coalition said. “Retaining Akpabio in office under such ethical clouds sends a dangerous message, especially as we approach the 2027 elections.”

The statement further questioned Akpabio’s eligibility to contest the 2023 elections or lead the Senate, given the now-confirmed fraudulent circumstances of his 2019 Senate entry — a term he didn’t complete due to his ministerial appointment.

The CSOs also applauded INEC and its former Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, for pursuing the case that led to Ogban’s conviction. They urged institutions such as INEC, the judiciary, and the National Assembly to treat the verdict as a pivotal moment to strengthen electoral safeguards.

Finally, the coalition called on the APC to uphold democratic standards by initiating a rerun or revalidation process for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat. “The judiciary has fulfilled its duty. It’s now up to Nigeria’s political leadership to show that no one, not even the Senate President, is above the law,” they concluded.