Akpabio Godswill Obot

Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio was born on 9 December 1962 in Akwa Ibom State and lost his father at an early age before being raised by his mother, Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (née Inyangetor) of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

He began his education at Methodist Primary School, Ukana, then attended the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, and later earned a Degree in Law from the University of Calabar. During his college years, he was appointed Senior Prefect at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, and became Speaker of the Student Union Government (SUG) at the University of Calabar.

A Christian of Catholic faith, Akpabio is married to Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, founder of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI). The couple has four daughters and one son. His family lineage traces back to Okuku Udo Akpabio, a Warrant Chief in Ikot Ekpene province, with relatives holding prominent roles in Nigerian politics.

Before entering politics, he worked briefly as a teacher and later joined Paul Usoro & Co., a law firm, before transitioning into telecommunications. He became Managing Director of EMIS Telecoms Limited by 2002, serving as National Publicity Secretary for the Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria (ATCOM) and as a director of EMIS.

Appointed Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources by Governor Obong Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State, he later served in three key ministries—Petroleum and Natural Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Lands and Housing—between 2002 and 2006. He contested the 2006 PDP primary for Akwa Ibom’s governorship election, winning against 57 rivals with the slogan ‘Let God’s will be done,’ before being elected Governor in 2007.

Re-elected in 2011, he became Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum in 2013. His tenure as governor was marked by significant infrastructure development and community engagement but faced allegations of corruption during his administration, though no charges were filed against him.

In 2015, he ran for the Senate under the PDP, winning with 422,009 votes (against 15,152 for APC’s Inibehe Okorie) and later became Senate Minority Leader before defecting to the APC in August 2018. He resigned from his ministerial post as Niger Delta Affairs Minister in June 2022 to contest in the APC primaries, though he stepped down after Bola Tinubu won.

He emerged as the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District in 2023, defeating Emmanuel Enoidem (PDP) with 115,401 votes. In June 2023, he was elected President of the Nigerian Senate with 63 votes against Abdulaziz Yari’s 46.

His political career includes awards for governance excellence—such as honorary doctorates from universities and recognition as ‘Best Governor’ in South-South Nigeria—and a history of public service spanning law, telecommunications, government administration, and national politics. He remains a prominent figure in Akwa Ibom State’s political landscape.