By OBSERVERS TIMES
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has strongly distanced himself from Prof. Peter Ogban, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Electoral Officer recently convicted for election rigging.
Akpabio emphasized that Ogban never worked for him during the 2019 elections, dismissing claims linking him to the jailed INEC official as unfounded, spurious, and malicious attempts to tarnish his reputation.
Prof. Ogban was convicted for rigging the February 23, 2019, senatorial election in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, Akpabio insisted that he was, in fact, a victim of electoral fraud during the Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial race.
A statement issued by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong, read in part:
“For the umpteenth time, just as when Senator Godswill Akpabio was Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, the claim that the jailed INEC Electoral Officer, Prof. Peter Ogban, was convicted for rigging the election in favor of the APC is unfounded, spurious, malicious, and intended to tarnish the image of the President of the Senate.”
“Contrarily, Akpabio was a victim of fraudulent manipulation during the Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District election held on February 23, 2019.”
The statement further noted that the conviction of Ogban represents a long-overdue step toward justice, with the hope that all conspirators involved will be held accountable, whether through the judiciary or divine intervention.
Akpabio, who has since ascended to the position of Senate President, reaffirmed his commitment to his duties and dismissed the reports as baseless attempts by “hatchet men and mischief makers” to distract him.
