Christopher Ekpenyong
Senator for Akwa Ibom North-West
In office
11 June 2019  11 June 2023
Preceded byGodswill Akpabio
Succeeded byGodswill Akpabio
Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State
In office
1999–2005
GovernorVictor Attah
Succeeded byMichael Udofia
Personal details
Born (1954-09-29) 29 September 1954
Ikot Ukana, Obot-Akara, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria)
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party
SpouseGrace Ekpenyong (Deceased)

Christopher Stephen Obong Ekpenyong (Listen; born 29 September 1954) is a Nigerian politician and former Deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State.[1][2][3][4] He was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2019 to represent Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.[5]

Personal life

On August 19, 2019, he lost his wife, Grace Ekpenyong.[6]

Education

In 1960, he attended St. Patrick's Primary School, Ikot Ukana before leaving for St. Michael's Primary School, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt where he got his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). In 1970, he attended Government Technical College, Port Harcourt and in 1975, he attended Federal Government Technical College, Yaba. In 1977, he attended Federal Polytechnic, Bida and obtained an Ordinary National Diploma in Electrical /Electronic Engineering. In 1980, Ekpenyong attended The Polytechnic Calabar for a Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and graduated in 1982.

In 1993, he attended Kensington University, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States and obtained a degree in Master of Business Administration (Marketing) in 1995. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy from the same institution.[7]

Political career

Ekpenyong was the deputy governor in Governor Victor Attah's tenure from 1999 until 2005.

In 2005, he made history in Nigeria: he was impeached as the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state but was hurriedly returned to that position in less than seven days. The members of the state house of assembly reversed the impeachment after the intervention of then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, although Ekpenyong was forced to resign afterwards.[8]

In 2019, he was elected as senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party beating his closest rival the incumbent, Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressive Congress. He received 118,215 votes as against 83,158 for Godswill Akpabio. He was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Electoral Officer Peter Ogban.[9][10][11]

On November 9, 2019; the court of Appeal in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, ordered a re-run of the senatorial election in Essien Udim Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.[12][13]

For the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election, the PDP candidate, Chris Ekpenyong, scored 134,717 votes to beat the former senator, Godswill Akpabio, who had 83,820 votes, according to the result released Sunday morning by INEC[14]

References

  1. Yusuf, Omotayo (6 December 2016). "Sorry, we don't want to be part of Biafra – Niger Delta chieftain issues warning to agitators". Naij.com – Nigeria news. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  2. "IPOB declares Operation David Dance against army's Python Dance". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. "Akwa Ibom govt. won't allow NSE, SON investigate church building collapse – Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  4. "Ex-deputy gov attacks Akpabio over corruption allegations - The Nation Newspaper". thenationonlineng.net. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  5. "Senate Swears-In Christopher Ekpenyong To Succeed Akpabio | Channels Television". www.channelstv.com. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  6. "Akwa Ibom senator loses wife". Premium Times Nigeria. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  7. "Profile: Engr. Dr. Obong Chris Ekpeyong – Great Achievers World". Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. "CLOSE-UP: Chris Ekpenyong, the man who snookered Akpabio". TheCable. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  9. "Akpabio loses re-election to Senate".
  10. "Breaking: Akpabio loses senatorial seat in Akwa Ibom to PDP's candidate". 26 February 2019.
  11. "Akpabio Loses Senatorial Seat in Akwa Ibom | Channels Television".
  12. "Appeal Court Sacks Senator Ekpenyong, Orders Rerun in Akpabio's LG".
  13. "Akwa Ibom: Court voids Ekpenyong's election as senator". 10 November 2019.
  14. "Akpabio loses again as PDP wins rerun elections in Akwa Ibom". 26 January 2020.
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