The Young Progressives Party's (YPP) candidate for governor, Senator Bassey Albert, received a 42-year prison term for corruption.
Mr. Albert was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and on Thursday, a Federal High Court in Uyo found him guilty and sentenced him.
He is presently detained in Akwa Ibom State's Ikot Ekpene prisons.
Mr. Albert, a senator currently serving the Akwa Ibom North East District, was charged with collecting bribes of 12 automobiles worth N254 million from oil marketer Olajidee Omokore while serving as the state's commissioner for finance in Akwa Ibom State (2010–2014).
The convicted senator is now running for governor in 2023 on the YPP's ticket after leaving the state's ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a few months ago.
In the upcoming Akwa Ibom State governorship election, he posed a serious challenge to the PDP’s nominee, Umo Eno.