Fifty-six civil society organizations (CSOs), including the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), have called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step aside following a Court of Appeal ruling affirming electoral fraud in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial election.
The appellate court in Calabar, on Wednesday, upheld the three-year prison sentence of Professor Peter Ogban, the election’s returning officer, convicted of manipulating results to favor Mr. Akpabio, then the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
In a joint statement issued Monday, the coalition argued that the judgment invalidates the legitimacy of Mr. Akpabio’s mandate, demanding his temporary resignation to “uphold democratic integrity and public trust.”
Court Confirms Fraud, CSOs Demand Accountability
The CSOs emphasized that while Mr. Akpabio has denied direct involvement, the conviction of the official who declared him winner irreparably taints the election’s credibility.
“In any democracy, such judicial findings necessitate immediate accountability. Mr. Akpabio cannot preside over the Senate while his mandate rests on fraud,” the statement read.
The groups noted that Mr. Akpabio’s initial election to the 9th Senate was cut short by his appointment as Niger Delta Minister, raising ethical questions about his eligibility for the 10th National Assembly. “How can someone benefiting from proven fraud legally or morally lead the Senate?” they asked.
Background
Mr. Akpabio, a former governor and minister, has faced scrutiny over his electoral history. The 2019 election, now marred by fraud, propelled him to the Senate before his controversial ascension to Senate President in 2023.
The CSOs warned that retaining him in office “sets a dangerous precedent” ahead of the 2027 polls, urging stakeholders to prioritize transparency.
Calls for Institutional Reforms
The coalition commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and former Akwa Ibom REC Mike Igini for pursuing the case.
They, however, called for broader reforms to strengthen INEC against electoral manipulation, and the national assembly to prioritize legislation to curb malpractice.
“The judiciary has spoken. Political leaders must now act to prove no one is above the law—not even the Senate President,” the statement concluded.
List of Signatories
The statement was endorsed by 56 CSOs:
1. 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth Initiative
2. Accountability Lab, Nigeria
3. Abuja School of Social and Political Thought
4. Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)
5. African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)
6. African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
7. Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (AACAB)
8. Amnesty International Nigeria
9. Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)
10. BudgIT Foundation
11. Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity
12. Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
13. Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT)
14. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
15. Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)
16. Centre for Social Justice
17. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
18. CLEEN Foundation
19. Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR)
20. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
21. Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability
22. Environmental Defenders Network
23. Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA)
24. Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond(AACAB)
25. #FixPolitics
26. Global Rights
27. Good Governance Team
28. Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
29. Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre)
30. Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
31. Lawyers Alert
32. Media Rights Agenda
33. Mothers and Marginalized Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre)
34. Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN)
35. Partners West Africa
36. Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa PAACA
37. Praxis
38. Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA)
39. Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative
40. Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED)
41. RULAAC – Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre
42. Say NO Campaign – Nigeria
43. Sesor Empowerment Foundation
44. Social Action
45. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
46. SPACES FOR CHANGE
47. State of the Union (SOTU)
48. Tax Justice and Governance Platform
49. Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)
50. West Africa Civil Society Forum (WASCSOF)
51. West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
52. Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
53. Women in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)
54. Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
55. Yiaga Africa
56. Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC).
