Profile
Christopher Stephen Obong Ekpenyong is the present Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District. He also served as the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State between 1999-2005 under the leadership of Victor Bassey Attah.
Personal Life
Ekpenyong was born on September 29th, 1954 to the family of Late Chief Stephen Jonah Ekpenyong and Mrs Catherine Stephen Ekpenyong, in Ikot Ukana, Obot Akara local government area, Akwa Ibom State. Christopher was married to Grace Ekpenyong, who passed away on August 19th, 2019, leaving behind their children.
Education
Name Of School | Qualification | Year |
Kensington University, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America | Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration | 2000 |
Kensington University, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America | Masters of Business Administration (Marketing) | 1993-1995 |
The Polytechnic, Calabar | Higher National Diploma in Electrical/Electronics Engineering | 1980-1982 |
Federal Polytechnic, Bida | Ordinary National Diploma in Electrical/Electronics Engineering | 1977 -1979 |
Federal Government Technical College, Yaba | City and Guilds Advanced Certificate | 1975 -1976 |
Government Technical College, Tombia, Port Harcourt | City and Guilds Intermediate Certificate | 1970-1973 |
St. Michael’s Primary School, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt | First School Leaving Certificate | 1964-1969 |
St. Patrick’s Primary School, Ikot Ukana, Akwa Ibom | 1960-1964 |
Work History
Place | Position | Date |
EEMJM Hotel and Suites Ltd., Uyo, Akwa Ibom State | Chief Executive Officer | |
JSC Farms Ltd., Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom State | Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director
|
1992-date |
Data Sciences, Lagos State | 1984 |
ONE
Ikot Ukana, Obot Akara local government area, Akwa Ibom State
September 25th, 1954
Akwa Ibom State
Peoples Democratic Party
Christianity
Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State (1999-2005)
Senatorial Representative, Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District (since 2019)
chrisekpesg@yahoo.com
Political History
Ekpenyong broke into politics by serving as the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State between 1999 and 2005, under the administration of Governor Victor Attah.
In 2005, he was impeached from his office as Deputy Governor on grounds of alleged “abuse of office, gross misconduct and disregard for constituted authority”. Following the intervention of the President of that administration, Olusegun Obasanjo, the impeachment was reversed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly within 7 days. Ekpenyong however resigned.
In 2006, Ekpenyong aspired for the office of Akwa Ibom State Governor, but the PDP governorship candidate ticket was given to Godswill Akpabio.
Fourteen years afterwards; in 2019, he was selected by the Peoples Democratic Party to run for the senatorial seat representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District. His closest rival, Godswill Akpabio, now under the flagship of APC, was the incumbent of the seat. Nonetheless, Ekpenyong emerged the winner after receiving 118,215 votes against Godswill Akpabio’s 83,158 votes.
On November 9th, 2018, the Court of Appeal in Calabar, Cross River State, ordered a rerun of the senatorial election in the Essien Udim local government area, Akwa Ibom State. According to the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ekpenyong got 134,717 votes to beat the 83,820 votes of Godswill Akpabio. Therefore, making Christopher Ekpenyong emerged as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Water Resources Committee.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
Awards & Honours
Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2021)
Project
Donation of 97 cartons of Zolar Albendazole ( a deworming drug) to children in his senatorial district (Akwa Ibom North-East)
Rehabilitation of classroom blocks at Government Primary School, Ikot Akai, Ukanafun LGA
Remodelling of Eritagha market with modern structures in Obot Akara LGA
Construction of several major roads in the Akwa-Ibom North-East district
Construction of skill acquisition centres in Ikot Ukana, Obot Akara LGA and Biakana, Ika LGA
Frequent training and empowerment programs for Akwa Ibom North-East residents
Criticism/Controversy
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, in 2005, impeached Ekpenyong from his office of Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom States, on the grounds of “abuse of office, gross misconduct and disregard for constituted authority”.