He was born on the 7th of September 1941. A native of Atani village, he was educated at County Grammar School, Ikwerre Etche; Government College Owerri, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He was Federal Produce Officer, Ministry of Trade; Land Surveyor, Nigeria Agip Oil Company Ltd and Chairman/CEO, Chrislyn and Associates. He was Chairman, Governing Board, Rivers State College of Education (Technical), Omoku; Chairman, National Republican Convention (NRC), Abia State, 1991-1993.
He has been a gubernatorial and senatorial candidate on several occasions.
Senator Chris Ukpabi was the only senator elected on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN in the Second Republic from the South East. He was subsequently chairman of the National Republic Convention, NRC in the Third Republic and is presently a chieftain of the PDP in Abia State.
He is married to Evelyn and blessed with children and grand children