A former Minister of Lands and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has endorsed Senator Ekong Sampson for a second term in the Senate.
Essien said Senator Sampson’s wealth of experience and competence in making meaningful contributions at the Senate should not be ignored, stressing that the National Assembly—especially the Senate—is not a place for newcomers.
Chief Essien, who also serves as Chairman of the Eket Senatorial District Elders Forum, made the remarks on Friday in Eket when members of the Mkpat Enin Elders/Stakeholders Forum, championing the re-election of Senator Ekong Sampson, paid him a courtesy visit.
He stressed that Eket Senatorial District must sustain effective representation at the National Assembly, recalling that the district had benefited significantly from experienced and ranking lawmakers in the past.
Essien further stated:
“Senator Sampson has extensive experience in governance and legislative affairs. He served as Principal Legislative Aide to former Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Executive Chairman of a local government council, member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, and later Commissioner in the state executive council.”
He added:
“Such a broad spectrum of experience has equipped the senator with the administrative and legislative competence required to continue effective representation of the people at the National Assembly.”
Drawing from his own experience in public office, Essien noted that many of his notable achievements were realized during his second term in office, underscoring the value of continuity in legislative representation.
Speaking further, Essien reiterated:
“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has, in the past 27 years, evolved into a strong institution where ranking senators wield significant influence on Senate decisions and the running of the country. It would therefore be inappropriate for any constituency to send a freshman or a ‘good boy from home’ to represent them in the Nigerian Senate.”
Essien, who lauded his guests for their massive support for the incumbent senator, added:
“The move you have made today is very timely in order to scuttle any attempts to take our Senatorial District back to the era of single-term representation in the Senate.”
“The first two or three years in the legislature are always a learning process for those who go to the National Assembly as political neophytes to learn the rudiments of the system. For us, there is no more room for learners in the National Assembly.”
“What we will do next is to call a meeting of the Senatorial District elders and make a pronouncement for Ekong Sampson to be officially given a return ticket to the Senate.
“We shall also appeal to all political parties fielding candidates for the Senate in Eket Senatorial District to adopt Senator Ekong Sampson in the interest of the district.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Mkpat Enin Elders/Stakeholders Forum, Obong Dr. Sydney Udofot, represented by the forum’s secretary, Reverend Obot Ekanem, confirmed that Senator Ekong Sampson had been chosen to return to the Senate in 2027 “for better representation and greater impact in the Senatorial District.
