Akpabio Claims He Was a Victim of Election Fraud than a Beneficiary

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By John Obe 

Akpabio brushed aside resurfaced claims that Ogban's electoral fraud was designed to help him win the 2019 National Assembly elections, calling the story completely untrue and malevolent.  He was the victim of the fraud for which the INEC officer was imprisoned, Akpabio explained.  He characterized the allegations as a component of a larger effort to harm his reputation.

Akpabio's previous stance as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was reaffirmed in a statement released in Abuja by Anietie Ekong, the Senate President's Special Assistant on Media and Communication. 

Ekong denied claims that Ogban rigged the results of the Akwa Ibom North-West senate election in favor of the candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“For the umpteenth time, the claim that the jailed INEC Electoral Officer, Prof. Peter Ogban, was convicted for rigging election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is unfounded, spurious, malicious and intended to tarnish the image of the President of the Senate," Ekong stated. He was a victim, not a beneficiary, according to Akpabio.  

Akpabio, who was running for Senate reelection under the APC at the time, contested the results of the 2019 general election, which is what started the controversy.  

The senatorial district returning officer, Ogban, was later found guilty of interfering with the election results by an Akwa Ibom State High Court.  

The statement claimed that the professor conspired with others to void valid votes that belonged to Akpabio, including more than 61,000 votes from Essien Udim, his native local government area, in contrast to assertions that Ogban acted on Akpabio's behalf.

Akpabio filed a lawsuit after the faulty procedure, and the Court of Appeal and the National Assembly Election Tribunal ultimately declared the first result to be invalid.  

Akpabio's claim that the election had been rigged against him was confirmed when a rerun was mandated in Essien Udim LGA.  

Ekong insisted that Ogban's sentencing had confirmed Akpabio and the APC's claims that the poll was manipulated severely.  If Akpabio had profited from the irregularities, he wondered why he would pursue his case in court.  

His media assistant claims that the Senate President has subsequently moved on and is concentrating on national leadership. 

The statement did, however, imply that those in charge of the purported election fraud might still be held accountable.

John Obe 

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