By Solomon OKPO
A respected elder statesman and stakeholder in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Benjamin Udobia, has endorsed Ekong Sampson for a second term in the Senate, citing the lawmaker’s performance and the strategic advantage of legislative ranking.
Udobia, who spoke during an interview with journalists at his residence in Uyo on Monday, March 2, 2026, said returning Sampson currently Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals and representative of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District to the National Assembly would strengthen the district’s influence and help attract more development projects.
According to him, Sampson’s performance in lawmaking, oversight and constituency representation has been commendable, making a second term necessary to consolidate the gains already recorded.
He explained that legislators who serve beyond one term often gain greater leverage in the Senate, including access to leadership positions and stronger opportunities to sponsor impactful bills and attract federal projects.
“When you go to the National Assembly for one tenure, you might be lucky to be given a committee chairmanship. But if you serve two terms or more, you become more eligible for Senate leadership positions and can deliver more quality representation,” Udobia said.
The elder statesman noted that several stakeholders across the senatorial district had earlier endorsed Sampson’s return to the Senate. In January, prominent leaders from the district converged in Eket under the platform of the Eket Senatorial District Elders Forum to support the senator’s re-election bid.
The meeting, convened by former Minister of Housing and elder statesman Nduese Essien, adopted a motion endorsing Sampson for a second term.
The motion was moved by former Secretary to the State Government Emmanuel Ekuwem and seconded by former member of the House of Representatives Owoidieghe Ekpoattai.
Other groups that have reportedly thrown their weight behind Sampson include the Forum of Former APC Local Government Chairmanship Aspirants in Akwa Ibom South, the Nigerian Progressive Initiative, the Forum of Former Elected Councillors and the Akwa Ibom South Consultative Assembly.
Udobia also highlighted several initiatives attributed to the senator, including facilitation of more than 50 federal jobs for constituents, disbursement of a N100 million education grant to 500 students, skills acquisition programmes for youths, business grants to women and the empowerment of constituents with vehicles and other resources.
He added that the rotation arrangement within the senatorial district, which involves the three federal constituencies, supports Sampson’s bid for a second term. According to him, after Sampson’s tenure ends in 2031, it would be the turn of Eket Federal Constituency to produce the next senator.
Udobia maintained that the arrangement has helped maintain peace and unity among the federal constituencies within the district and should not be disrupted.
The elder statesman also used the opportunity to commend Umo Eno for what he described as purposeful leadership and inclusive governance across the state.
He said the governor’s development initiatives have touched every federal constituency and predicted that Eno would secure a landslide victory if the governorship election were held today.
“Governor Umo Eno has justified the mandate given to him by the people of Akwa Ibom.
His developmental strides cut across the entire state, and the people appreciate what he is doing,” Udobia said.
