Senator Asququo Ekpenyong, Jr., who serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is facing public scrutiny over allegations that he has exploited his oversight role to redirect the NDDC's empowerment programme for personal political gain. Paul Nyambi, a Nigerian lawyer and public rights campaigner based in the United Kingdom, accused Ekpenyong of violating constitutional principles by engaging in activities that conflict with his legislative responsibilities. Section 88(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, grants the National Assembly authority to investigate matters involving public funds, including the operations of agencies like the NDDC. Nyambi argued that rather than ensuring transparency, Ekpenyong has allegedly used his position to influence the distribution of empowerment benefits to constituents in a manner that serves his re-election campaign. The allegation includes claims that Ekpenyong, who also serves as a personal aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has formed an improper alliance with NDDC officials to control the programme. Nyambi described the situation as a clear case of corruption carried out in public view, with both the NDDC and the senator implicated. Attempts by the NDDC and Ekpenyong's media aides to justify the arrangement have been dismissed as efforts to mislead the public. In response, Nyambi has formally requested records from the NDDC under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, to verify how the empowerment programme has been implemented. He stated that further action will depend on the agency's response to his request.
A senator tasked with overseeing the NDDC is now accused of steering its empowerment projects toward his own political base, undermining the oversight role meant to prevent such abuses. If the NDDC allowed a committee chairman to direct its programmes, it compromised its mandate and enabled a conflict of interest. This alleged collaboration turns a development initiative into a campaign tool, weakening public trust in both legislative oversight and federal intervention schemes. When oversight becomes co-option, accountability collapses.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
