A High Court in Akwa Ibom has sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk to three years in prison for publishing false election results and committing perjury during the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West State House of Assembly election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) filed charges against Uduk, who served as the collation and returning officer in the election.
While he was acquitted of announcing false results, the court found him guilty of falsifying election documents and lying under oath.
The case, which began in December 2020, faced several delays. Uduk initially refused to appear in court, prompting an arrest warrant. He later pleaded not guilty, but the trial was disrupted by multiple changes in his legal defense and an incident where he collapsed during cross-examination.
The case was spearheaded by former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini, who had vowed to fight electoral malpractice.
The sentencing marks a major step in INEC’s ongoing efforts to ensure electoral integrity and accountability in Nigeria.
