WHY MAJORITY OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM AKWA IBOM SOUTH (EKET) SENATORIAL DISTRICT WANT SENATOR EKONG SAMPSON BACK IN THE SENATE BEYOND 2027

 

By Ẹdẹt Okpo, PhD

The sustained wave of commendations, overwhelming goodwill, and cross-sectional endorsements from stakeholders across Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District, collectively reflect a historically outstanding and record breaking performance; clear and shared aspiration that Ekong Sampson, PhD, returns to the Nigerian Senate in 2027.

Currently Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development and Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, Senator Sampson’s performance has been widely described as outstanding, impactful, and record-setting. The convergence of voices—from political leaders and party stakeholders to youth groups, women, professionals, and community leaders—signals not merely routine political support, but a considered endorsement rooted in performance and legislative value.

This sentiment gained further traction following strategic Meeting convened by Governor Umo Eno at the Banquet Hall of the Government House and the landmark stakeholders’ resolution of December 30, 2025, held at Villa Marina, Eket. At that meeting, stakeholders drawn from the twelve Local Government Areas of the Senatorial District resolved to discourage the culture of single-term representation and instead promote legislative ranking through proven performance. The logic is simple: sustained excellence should be rewarded with continuity.

Respected political figures across party lines have openly expressed confidence in Senator Sampson’s leadership. These include Rt. Hon. Chief Nduese Essien; Barr. Bassey Dan Abia; Arc. Otu Ita Toyo; Rt. Hon. Patrick Ifon; Rt. Hon. Peter Linus Umoh; Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem; Rt. Hon. Owoedighe Ekpoatai; Prof. Peter Esuh; Hon. Mrs. Abigail Edohoket, among others. Their endorsements are not casual compliments but affirmations grounded in legislative performance, oversight capacity, and constituency impact.

Political analysts also note that under the provisions of the new Electoral Act, whether through direct primaries or consensus arrangements within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sampson remains strategically positioned, given his grassroots acceptance and institutional support.

A key argument advanced by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem during the inauguration of the “Believers of Senator Ekong Sampson” support group is instructive: a ranking Senator possesses deeper legislative experience, enjoys broader institutional leverage, and wields greater influence in advancing constituency interests. In Nigeria’s legislative system, ranking translates into bargaining power, committee influence, and accelerated project facilitation. Continuity, therefore, becomes a strategic advantage for Akwa Ibom South.

Performance as the Basis of Confidence

The call for a second term is fundamentally performance-driven. Senator Sampson’s legislative footprint in the 10th National Assembly includes sponsorship and co-sponsorship of critical bills such as:

The Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi Bill (awaiting third reading and passage);

Federal Medical Centres Amendment Bill (passed into law);

The Federal Medical Centre, Eket Bill (passed into law);

The South-South Development Commission Bill (co-sponsored and passed into law);

Strong advocacy for the speedy take-off of the Federal University of Maritime Studies, Oron.

Beyond legislative drafting, he has consistently raised issues on infrastructure renewal, maritime and coastal economy, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, industrial development, and the reactivation of ALSCON in Ikot Abasi.

Strategic Investment in Education

Education remains central to his representation philosophy. In January, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Prof. Leo Daniel, publicly commended Senator Sampson for his tangible infrastructural support and practical commitment to the institution’s growth.

The recent ₦100 million Education Grant benefiting 500 students and 25 teachers stands as one of the most impactful interventions in the district’s educational history. The initiative has eased financial burdens on families, strengthened access to learning, and positioned education as a cornerstone of socio-economic transformation.

Constituency Interventions and Empowerment

Across the twelve Local Government Areas, Senator Sampson’s interventions include:

Over ₦500 million in business grants to support Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises; 5 Million Naira Support to Students from Okobo Local Government Area through Okobo Development Union, 

Employment facilitation for more than 50 constituents in federal agencies;

Skills acquisition and empowerment programmes;

Distribution of vehicles, buses, tricycles, and motorcycles to support mobility and grassroots engagement;

Strategic party structure support within the district.

Infrastructure projects facilitated include erosion control works in Ekeya (Okobo); electrification projects with 500KVA transformers; road construction in Mkpat Enin; solar-powered boreholes and lighting in multiple communities; ICT/CBT centres in secondary schools; construction of staff quarters and hostels; medical facility upgrades in Eket, Ikot Abasi, and Iquita; and classroom projects including the recently flagged-off hall at A.M.E Zion School, Idua Assang.

The Larger Question

The central question, therefore, is not whether confidence in Senator Sampson is justified—but whether the district can afford to interrupt the momentum of a legislator who has combined policy depth, oversight mastery, and constituency responsiveness.

The evidence, by measurable parameters—legislative productivity, project facilitation, educational investment, institutional advocacy, and stakeholder confidence—suggests that the call for his return in 2027 is less about political sentiment and more about strategic continuity.

For many in Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District, retaining Senator Ekong Sampson beyond 2027 is not a reward for loyalty; it is a calculated decision to consolidate gains, strengthen ranking advantage, and sustain a representation widely regarded as focused, impactful, and development-driven.