Chris Ekpenyong

Christopher Ekpenyong
Christopher Ekpenyong
Senator for Akwa Ibom North-West
	In office; 11 June 2019 – 11 June 2023
Preceded by	Godswill Akpabio
Succeeded by	Godswill Akpabio
Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State
	In office; 1999–2005
Governor	Victor Attah
Succeeded by	Michael Udofia
Personal details
Born	29 September 1954; Ikot Ukana, Obot-Akara, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria)
Political party	Peoples Democratic Party
Spouse	Grace 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

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.
"IPOB declares Operation David Dance against army's Python Dance". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
"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.
"Ex-deputy gov attacks Akpabio over corruption allegations - The Nation Newspaper". thenationonlineng.net. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
"Senate Swears-In Christopher Ekpenyong To Succeed Akpabio | Channels Television". www.channelstv.com. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
"Akwa Ibom senator loses wife". Premium Times Nigeria. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
"Profile: Engr. Dr. Obong Chris Ekpeyong – Great Achievers World". Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
"CLOSE-UP: Chris Ekpenyong, the man who snookered Akpabio". TheCable. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
"Akpabio loses re-election to Senate".
"Breaking: Akpabio loses senatorial seat in Akwa Ibom to PDP's candidate". 26 February 2019.
"Akpabio Loses Senatorial Seat in Akwa Ibom | Channels Television".
"Appeal Court Sacks Senator Ekpenyong, Orders Rerun in Akpabio's LG".
"Akwa Ibom: Court voids Ekpenyong's election as senator". 10 November 2019.
"Akpabio loses again as PDP wins rerun elections in Akwa Ibom". 26 January 2020.

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[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.

[15] Abaribe was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.

[16] Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.

[17] Akpan was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the YPP in July 2022.

[18] The PDP's Ekpenyong was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal partially annulled the results and called a supplementary election in the affected areas. Ekpenyong won the ensuing rerun election and was sworn-in again in January 2020.

[19] Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021 before returning to the PDP in April 2022.

[20] Jika was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in June 2022.

[21] Bulkachuwa was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in November 2022.

[22] Gumau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022.

[23] The PDP's Douye Diri was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[24] The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[fnAPCResigns-25] In April 2022, Adamu and Kyari resigned from the Senate after taking APC party offices the month prior.

[26] The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected Senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both initial court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus Senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.

[27] Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.

[28] Alimikhena was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.

[29] The APC's Adebayo Clement Adeyeye was elected Senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.

[30] Onyewuchi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the LP in June 2022.

[31] Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.

[32] Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.

[33] Shekarau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022 then to the PDP in August 2022.

[34] Babba Kaita was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in April 2022.

[35] Aliero was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in May 2022.

[36] Abdullahi was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.

[37] The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected Senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.

[38] The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected Senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[39] Akwashiki was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the SDP in July 2022.

[40] The APC's David Umaru was elected Senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him Senator. He took office in July 2019.

[41] Balogun was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.

[42] The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected Senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[43] The APC's Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Abdullahi Danbaba. He took office in November 2019 as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in April 2022.

[44] Bwacha was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in February 2022.

[fnZamfara-45] Prior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Hassan Muhammed Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021. In February 2022, Muhammed Gusau resigned to become Zamfara Deputy Governor.