The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar has upheld the conviction and three-year prison sentence of Professor Peter Ogban for his role in manipulating the results of the 2019 senatorial election in Akwa Ibom North-West to favour then-candidate Godswill Akpabio, now President of the Senate.
Delivering the unanimous judgment of the three-member panel, Justice Joseph Oyewole criticized Ogban’s conduct as a disgrace to academia and public service, stating that the rank of professor is “not one easily attained” and “certainly not a rank attained by fools.”
Ogban, a professor of soil science at the University of Uyo, served as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer for the district during the controversial election. He was initially convicted by the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Ikot Ekpene on March 25, 2021, after being found guilty of manipulating and falsifying election results in Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo local government areas.
Despite the verdict, critics have decried the lack of enforcement that has allowed the convicted professor to remain free more than three years later, spotlighting the persistent weaknesses within Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Court Dismisses All Grounds of Appeal
Professor Ogban had approached the appellate court with four grounds of appeal, including an allegation that he was denied a fair hearing during his trial. However, the court found no merit in any of his claims.
Justice Oyewole, reading the lead judgment, noted that Ogban’s defence that he changed the election figures based on “verbal directives” from collation officers was not only implausible but rightly dismissed by the trial court.
“The figures involved were consistently manipulated in a manner that clearly lacked credibility,” Oyewole said. “The lower court was right to have rejected that excuse, and I have no difficulty understanding why.”
The Court affirmed that Ogban intentionally altered official results to benefit Akpabio, who had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly before the election. Despite Ogban’s actions, Akpabio lost the senatorial race to PDP candidate Chris Ekpenyong.
Judges Condemn Betrayal of Public Trust
Concurring with the lead judgment, Justice Peter Obiorah delivered a searing rebuke of Ogban’s conduct, stating that he had “betrayed public trust” and brought dishonour to the academic profession.
“If a person of his status can be involved in such despicable activity, one wonders what sort of knowledge he is passing on to students,” Obiorah said. “Such conduct deserves no sympathy or leniency.”
He described Ogban’s actions as “shameful” and “reprehensible,” emphasizing that people in positions of intellectual authority must be held to the highest standards of integrity.
INEC’s Evidence and Judicial Integrity
The prosecution, led by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), presented strong evidence to secure the conviction, including testimony from two collation officers whose original results were unlawfully altered by Ogban.
The Court’s affirmation of the lower court’s ruling was hailed as a win for electoral integrity, though many have continued to express concern that justice may still be delayed if the sentence is not enforced.
In concluding the judgment, Justice Oyewole dismissed the appeal in its entirety:
“This appeal is devoid of merit and is accordingly dismissed.”
Broader Implications for Nigeria’s Electoral Process
The case has become a reference point in discussions around accountability in Nigeria’s electoral system. Civil society groups and electoral reform advocates have urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that the judgment is not merely symbolic but also implemented in full, to send a clear message that electoral fraud no matter who is involved will not be tolerated.
As the 2027 general elections approach, the affirmation of Ogban’s conviction is seen by many as a test of the nation’s commitment to credible elections and the rule of law.
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