CSOs call on Senate President Akpabio to resign following the returning officer’s conviction for electoral malpractice.

CSOs call on Senate President Akpabio to resign following the returning officer's conviction for electoral malpractice.

A coalition of 56 prominent Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including CISLAC, SERAP, CITAD, BudgIT, and Amnesty International Nigeria, has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step down following the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of a conviction related to the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial election. The Appeal Court sitting in Calabar upheld a three-year prison sentence against Professor Peter Ogban, the returning officer for the 2019 election, who was found guilty of manipulating results in favor of Akpabio, then a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the CSOs said the judgment raises grave concerns over the legitimacy of Senator Akpabio’s electoral victory. “This ruling confirms that the election which brought him to the Senate was tainted by fraud. Such a revelation demands accountability and responsible leadership in any democratic society,” the statement read.

Although Akpabio has denied any involvement in the fraudulent activities, the groups insist that the conviction of the official who declared him winner casts a shadow over the integrity of his mandate. They argue that Akpabio should temporarily vacate his seat to preserve public trust and uphold democratic values.

The CSOs questioned whether Akpabio, having been a confirmed beneficiary of electoral fraud in the 9th Senate—an office he left to become Minister of Niger Delta—should have been allowed to contest for the 10th National Assembly or serve as its President. “This is not about one man. It is about the credibility of our electoral system. Allowing Akpabio to remain in office undermines democratic principles and sets a dangerous precedent ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the organizations warned.

The statement commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and former Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini for pursuing the investigation and prosecution of the case. The CSOs urged the National Assembly, INEC, and the judiciary to treat the ruling as a call to strengthen electoral safeguards. They also called on the APC to initiate a rerun or revalidation of the disputed senatorial seat.

“The judiciary has played its role. It is now time for political leadership to prove that no one—regardless of status—is above the law,” the statement concluded.