Chris Ekpenyong

On August 19, 2019, he lost his wife, Grace Ekpenyong.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8][9][10]

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.[11][12]