The High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk to three years in prison for electoral fraud. The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Bassey Nkanang at Uyo High Court 5.
Prof. Uduk, a lecturer at the University of Uyo and a Professor of Human Kinetics, was arraigned on a three-count charge related to his role in the 2019 general elections.
The charges included abandonment of duties and falsification of election results during the State House of Assembly election held on March 10, 2019, at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Afaha Ikot Ebak.
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He was also accused of announcing and publishing false election results and lying on oath before the Election Petition Tribunal.
The court acquitted him on Count 1 but found him guilty on Counts 2 and 3. Consequently, Justice Nkanang sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for each count, to be served concurrently.
Prof. Uduk, who served as the Collation/Returning Officer for the Essien Udim State Constituency during the 2019 elections, was first arraigned by INEC on December 9, 2020. The conviction marks a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against electoral malpractice.
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INEC has repeatedly emphasized the need for accountability in electoral processes, and this ruling underscores the importance of integrity in election management.
The sentencing of Prof. Uduk serves as a deterrent to those who may attempt to manipulate election outcomes in the future.