Chris Ekpenyong
{{short description|Nigerian politician (born 1954)}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image =
|caption =
|office1 = Senator for Akwa Ibom North-West
|term_start1 = 11 June 2019
|term_end1 = 11 June 2023
|predecessor1 = Godswill Akpabio
|successor1 = Godswill Akpabio
|office2 = Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State
|governor2 = Victor Attah
|term_start2 = 1999
|term_end2 = 2005
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 = Michael Udofia
|spouse = Grace Ekpenyong (Deceased)
|party = Peoples Democratic Party
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|9|29|df=y}}
|birth_place = Ikot Ukana, Obot-Akara, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria)
|nationality = Nigerian
}}
Christopher Stephen Obong Ekpenyong ({{Audio|Ig-Chris Ekpenyong.ogg|Listen|(|help=no}}; born 29 September 1954) is a Nigerian politician and former Deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State.{{cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/1075281-sorry-dont-want-part-biafra-niger-delta-chieftain-issues-warning-agitators.html|title=Sorry, we don't want to be part of Biafra – Niger Delta chieftain issues warning to agitators|last=Thabit|first=Khadijah|date=6 December 2016|website=Legit.ng|access-date=9 September 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://punchng.com/ipob-declares-operation-david-dance-armys-python-dance/|title=IPOB declares Operation David Dance against army's Python Dance|work=The Punch|date=7 December 2016|access-date=9 September 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/217985-akwa-ibom-govt-wont-allow-nse-son-investigate-church-building-collapse.html|title=Akwa Ibom govt. won't allow NSE, SON investigate church building collapse|last=Ukpong|first=Cletus|work=Premium Times|date=14 December 2016|access-date=9 September 2024}}{{cite news|title=Ex-deputy gov attacks Akpabio over corruption allegations|work=The Nation|date=10 February 2019|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/ex-deputy-gov-attacks-akpabio-over-corruption-allegations/|access-date=9 September 2024}} He was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2019 to represent Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district.{{cite news|last=Idowu|first=Ronke Sanya|title=Senate Swears-In Christopher Ekpenyong To Succeed Akpabio|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2020/01/30/senate-swears-in-christopher-ekpenyong-to-succeed-akpabio/|date=30 January 2020|access-date=9 September 2024|agency=Channels TV}}
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 Master of Business Administration (Marketing) degree in 1995. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy from the same institution.{{cite web|url=http://greatachieversworld.com/profile-engr-dr-obong-chris-ekpeyong/|title=Profile: Engr. Dr. Obong Chris Ekpeyong – Great Achievers World|access-date=18 March 2019|archive-date=23 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323212646/http://greatachieversworld.com/profile-engr-dr-obong-chris-ekpeyong/|url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecable.ng/close-up-ekpenyong-objs-ally-who-shattered-akpabios-uncommon-feat|title=CLOSE-UP: Chris Ekpenyong, the man who snookered Akpabio|last=Asadu|first=Chinedu|date=26 February 2019|access-date=9 September 2024|website=TheCable}}
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.{{cite news|work=The Guardian|url=https://guardian.ng/news/akpabio-loses-re-election-to-senate/|last=Olasupo|first=Abisola|title=Akpabio loses re-election to Senate|date=26 February 2019|access-date=9 September 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/1224370-breaking-akpabio-loses-senatorial-seat-akwa-ibom.html|website=Legit.ng|last=Nnamdi|first=Onyirioha|title=Breaking: Akpabio loses senatorial seat in Akwa Ibom to PDP's candidate|date=26 February 2019|access-date=9 September 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/26/breaking-akpabio-loses-senatorial-seat-in-akwa-ibom/|title=Akpabio Loses Senatorial Seat in Akwa Ibom|last=Nathaniel|first=Soonest|agency=Channels TV|date=26 February 2019|access-date=9 September 2024}}
On 9 November 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2019/11/09/appeal-court-sacks-senator-ekpenyong-orders-rerun-in-akpabios-lg/|title=Appeal Court Sacks Senator Ekpenyong, Orders Rerun in Akpabio's LG|last=Ajibola|first=Akinola|agency=Channels TV|date=9 November 2019|access-date=9 September 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/akwa-ibom-court-voids-ekpenyongs-election-as-senator/|last=Gill|first=Nsa|title=Akwa Ibom: Court voids Ekpenyong's election as senator|date=10 November 2019|access-date=9 September 2024}}
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{{cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/374402-akpabio-loses-again-as-pdp-wins-rerun-elections-in-akwa-ibom.html|last=Ukpong|first=Cletus|title=Akpabio loses again as PDP wins rerun elections in Akwa Ibom|date=26 January 2020|access-date=9 September 2024}}
Personal life
On 19 August 2019, he lost his wife, Grace Ekpenyong.{{cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/347512-akwa-ibom-senator-loses-wife.html|title=Akwa Ibom senator loses wife|last=Ukpong|first=Cletus|date=19 August 2019|access-date=9 September 2024|work=Premium Times}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 8th National Assembly}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 9th National Assembly}}
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekpenyong, Chris}}
Category:Akwa Ibom State politicians