Marshall made the demand in a Facebook post, expressing disappointment over what he described as attempts to distance him from the minister and insisting that the issue be resolved through scientific verification.
“It is painful to hear words of denouncement from a biological father, the very person who should offer comfort and quiet direction at a time like this,” he wrote.
The NDC candidate maintained that his decision to seek elective office was motivated by a desire to serve the people of his constituency and insisted that the controversy would not discourage him from pursuing his political ambition.
“I will not deny the fact that the Honourable Minister of State (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, is my biological father,” he said.
Marshall further challenged the minister to submit to a paternity test to resolve the matter.
“Dear Father, if you truly believe in your integrity, then let us settle this once and for all through a DNA test. Truth does not fear examination, and facts will speak for themselves.”
The controversy followed reports attributed to the minister’s spokesperson, Louis Ibah, who reportedly dismissed claims that the minister was supporting Marshall’s political aspiration and was quoted as saying that no son of the minister was contesting any election.
The issue first gained public attention after reports published on June 19 by Vanguard and LEADERSHIP indicated that some political stakeholders in the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency were concerned that Marshall’s candidacy on the NDC platform could affect the electoral prospects of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although the reports were later removed from the newspapers’ websites, they alleged that some APC stakeholders feared the NDC candidate could split votes in the constituency.
The spokesperson’s reported remark subsequently fuelled speculation over whether the minister was disputing Marshall’s claim that he is his son or simply distancing himself from the candidate’s political activities.
The statement did not expressly clarify whether Marshall was not the minister’s son, whether reports of his candidacy were inaccurate, or whether the minister was denying any connection to the campaign.
LEADERSHIP had also reported that the minister rejected claims linking him to the House of Representatives candidacy, although there has been no publicly available statement directly issued by the minister disowning Marshall or denying paternity.
The latest development has revived allegations that surfaced on social media in March 2025 when commentator Da Zion Umoh claimed that Marshall was the minister’s biological first son and accused him of abandoning him for years.
The social media post also urged the minister to publicly acknowledge Marshall or agree to a DNA test. However, those allegations were not independently verified, and there is no public record indicating that the minister responded to them at the time.
With Marshall now publicly insisting that the minister is his biological father and demanding a DNA test, the controversy has once again drawn public attention.
Attempts to obtain clarification from the minister were unsuccessful, as his spokesperson could not be reached, while the minister’s known telephone line was reportedly switched off at the time the report was filed.