After several delays based on technicalities, the trial of Professor Ignatius Uduk, accused of electoral fraud during the 2019 general elections, commenced, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presenting its first witness.
The head of Electoral Operations at INEC’s headquarters in Uyo, Mr Vincent Akpowene Oghene, who appeared as the first witness (PW1), presented eight documents admitted as evidence by the trial judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang.
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Oghene affirmed that Prof Uduk was the collation/returning officer for the Essien Udim state assembly during the 2019 general elections, and attested to the documents marked by the court as exhibits when he announced and published false election results.
During cross-examination, counsel to the accused, Abasiodiong Ekpenyong, sought answers on the location of PW1 as at the time of the election, and if he witnessed the alleged violence that occurred on the said date.