A letter beyond defection: The philosophical depth and strategic undertone of Senator Ekong Sampson’s realignment 

A LETTER BEYOND DEFECTION: THE PHILOSOPHICAL DEPTH AND STRATEGIC UNDERTONE OF SENATOR EKONG SAMPSON’S REALIGNMENT

By Nkereuwem James

Senator Ekong Sampson’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as formally communicated through a letter read by Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, on the floor of the Senate may easily be mistaken for a routine political shift. But a closer reading reveals far more than a partisan transition — it is a layered political treatise, rich with philosophical depth, calibrated diplomacy, and subtle strategic signaling.

At its core, the letter invokes a principle rarely articulated so clearly in the corridors of power: “Politics is a game of interest, and if I may add, circumstance.” This statement, brief but powerful, captures the essence of political realism. It is not a cynical surrender to opportunism, but an honest reflection on the dynamics of democratic engagement. Interests, in this context, refer not only to personal or partisan ambitions, but to the developmental aspirations of constituents. Circumstance refers to the political climate and the shifting alignments that inevitably influence governance and access.

Senator Sampson does not rage against his former Party. He expresses no bitterness, hurls no insults. Instead, he charts a dignified exit — one that suggests reflection, consultation, and a desire to remain connected to the federal structure that drives national development. His tone is sober, his language diplomatic, and his intent — if read beyond the lines — is to signal both a departure and an arrival; not just from a political party, but into a new contract of responsibility.

In fact, his letter exudes gratitude and memory, when he states: “I thank the Peoples Democratic Party for providing a power valve for me over the years, to serve my people in Akwa Ibom State in several capacities. I will eternally recall my relationship with the Party and my humble contributions, within my own space, to its near apotheosis, before a set of complications precipitated its descent.” These are not mere platitudes; they echo the weight of genuine commitment to a party he joined at inception and served loyally, in and out of office.

Senator Sampson’s cognate contributions to the PDP are not footnotes, but defining moments of grassroots leadership. He bought the land and championed the construction of the PDP Secretariat in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, making the LGA one of the first in the nation to boast a permanent Party secretariat. As a State Assembly member, he provided motorcycles to all PDP Ward Chairmen, and later bought vehicles for some Chapter Officers and Ward Chairmen, yours truly being one of such beneficiaries in his time. He purchased land for some Party members in Mkpat Enin, and worked tirelessly to ensure all wards — some of which were under the All Peoples Party (APP) — were recovered for the PDP during his time as Chairman of Council.

Since then, PDP has won every election in all 14 INEC Wards of Mkpat Enin, the largest ward bloc in Akwa Ibom State. He further facilitated State appointments for some Ward Chairmen, consistently supported the Party through grants and empowerment, and has pledged that many PDP members will still benefit from his forthcoming empowerment programme as a token of gratitude. A long-standing pillar of the PDP, he rose to become a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) in 2024, and served as Chairman of the Akwa Ibom PDP National Assembly Caucus. His defection, therefore, is not a repudiation of the past but a response to what he describes as “a set of complications” that altered the party’s trajectory.

Despite the switch, Senator Ekong Sampson has strongly assured that he will remain true to the values he has held dear over the years. He wrote in the letter “Despite the switch, I look forward to working with my new party men and women in the All Progressives Congress and indeed, all well meaning Nigerians in the pursuit of ideals that have always inspired my political odyssey within the bigger picture of humanism, constitutionalism and national interest”.
Distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson (Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin) has, in his political journey, shown leadership by example, putting the interest of the society first. Among the stand-outs that endear him to Mkpat Enin people was that he lived in the Local Government Area, among his people, for the years he served as the Chairman of the Local Government Council. Till date, he has projects well spread throughout the four clans of the LGA and he mixes freely with everybody and is a regular face at functions.

As a member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Sen. Ekong Sampson left his mark, earning the nickname “The Compendium” because of his trademark hard work and intelligence. These were attributes he carried over to the State Executive Council where he conceptualised the landmark AKWA IBOM RURAL DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN and equally lit up the Akwa Ibom Bureau for Political Affairs with innovation.

At the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson is also making bold strides. He is a visible presence at plenary and at committee meetings. He chairs the strategic Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development – a sector reputed for holding high prospects for alternative national revenue. He enjoys a very warm relationship with the Senate President, the State Governor, his National Assembly colleagues and many leading political players.

As a grassroots politician, he set up his constituency office at Atabong in Eket immediately he assumed office as Senator representing Akwa Ibom South and subsequently held his first tranche of empowerment programme for which over a thousand of his constituents benefited. His mega empowerment programme is slated to hold later this year to build up on the first. It is noteworthy that Onomkpoinam is also facilitating pensionable employment for his constituents at the Federal level. Senator Sampson is a principled intellectual who believes, resolutely, that policy must drive politics and not the other way round. He believes in justice and the public good, no wonder he ensured that each of the 12 LGAs that comprise his Senatorial District has his project and he equally respects the diversities in the Senatorial District.

One of the most resonant lines in his letter reads: “In Akwa Ibom, the earth has moved.” The phrase is poetic and evocative, yet it carries a heavy political message. It suggests that something fundamental has changed in the political landscape of the State. The earth — solid and rooted — does not move without consequence. This is not merely commentary; it is a coded message to the national leadership of the APC and to the Presidency itself. It says, in effect: “Akwa Ibom is now politically realigned — we have come closer to the centre, and we expect the centre to take notice.”

Senator Sampson’s choice of words conveys a strategic vision: one that sees federal alignment as a means to secure developmental benefits for his Senatorial District and State. By speaking of “integration” and “development,” he frames his defection not as a political gain for himself but as a calculated move to open up space for federal attention and resources and “the need to strengthen collaborations to develop my Senatorial District and the larger Akwa Ibom State.” He has, in effect, laid a philosophical foundation for reciprocal federalism — the idea that loyalty and alignment with the ruling government should attract partnership, investment, and inclusion.

In his own words: “With the convergence of principal political players in Akwa Ibom State on the APC platform, my people have high hopes of commensurate reward system from the APC power matrix for my State, which, historically, has been rooted in another political leaning.” This expectation is neither vague nor abstract. It speaks directly to tangible development outcomes — including landmark federal projects that Senator Sampson and his colleagues from Akwa Ibom State in the National Assembly have been collectively championing. Among these are the Ibom Deep Seaport, the resuscitation of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Ikot Abasi, the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (UMSO), and other strategic federal interventions across the state. His letter, therefore, becomes a polite but pointed appeal to the Presidency and the APC-led federal structure to see Akwa Ibom’s political reorientation as a gesture deserving of national developmental reciprocity.

The Senator is not only repositioning himself — he is repositioning Akwa Ibom State in seamless concord with the vision of the Golden Governor – His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D. – the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The letter serves as both a declaration of support for the Tinubu-led administration and a diplomatic petition: “We have moved. The centre must notice.”

It is also no accident that the letter was read by Senate President, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, a political titan from the same State, and a figure whose influence within the APC is undeniable. The symbolism of Senator Akpabio reading the letter of his fellow Akwa Ibom Senator is profound. It signals a reuniting of political forces that once operated under the same regional umbrella and now find themselves, once again, aligned — this time, under the banner of national progress and strategic relevance.

Senator Ekong Sampson’s letter is ultimately a manifesto in disguise — a declaration of renewed political faith, and an invitation to the APC to recognize the importance of consolidating its emerging foothold in Akwa Ibom State. It makes the case that realignment is not an end in itself but the beginning of a new relationship — one grounded in mutual benefit, political cooperation, and national development.

Far from being just another note of defection, the letter is a philosophical gesture, a subtle but clear message that politics must not only serve the party but must serve the people. And if the APC and the federal government are listening — truly listening — they will understand that in Akwa Ibom, the earth has indeed moved. And it is now time for Abuja to respond in kind.

Comrade Hon. Nkereuwem James is the immediate past Chapter Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mkpat Enin Chapter and the Executive Secretary/Convener of Akwa Ibom South Democracy Coalition