Akpabio Godswill Obot

Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio (born 9 December 1962) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is currently serving as the 15th president of the Nigerian Senate since 2023. He was first elected as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District in 2015, lost in the 2019 senatorial elections, and won in the 2023 elections. He also served as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 up until 2022 when he resigned to seek re-election into the Nigerian Senate.

Godswill Akpabio is the son of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (née Inyangetor) of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area. He was born on 9 December 1962 and lost his father at an early age, being raised by his mother. Akpabio was educated at Methodist Primary School, Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State; Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and the University of Calabar, Cross River State, where he obtained a Degree in Law.

While at Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, he was appointed the Senior Prefect. In the University of Calabar, Akpabio was elected as the Student Union Government (SUG) Speaker of the 1987/88 parliamentary year. His grandfather, Okuku Udo Akpabio, was the Warrant Chief in Ikot Ekpene province. His uncle, Dr. I. U. Akpabio, was the Minister of Education/Internal Affairs in the then Eastern Nigeria. Justice Nsima Akpabio, his cousin, was a senator in the Second Nigerian Republic.

Akpabio is a Christian of the Catholic faith. He is married to Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, the founder of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), a non-governmental organization aimed at redirecting development efforts towards families as a strategy for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Akpabio and his wife have four daughters and one son.

Akpabio briefly worked as a teacher before joining Paul Usoro and Co., a prominent law firm in Nigeria as an associate partner. He later worked with EMIS Telecoms Limited, a wireless telecommunications company based in Lagos, Nigeria, becoming Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer by 2002. Prior to this, he served as the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria (ATCOM) and as a director of EMIS.

In 2002, he was appointed Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources by Governor Obong Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a Commissioner in three key ministries: Petroleum and Natural Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Lands and Housing. In 2006, he contested the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in a contested primary election, defeating 57 other aspirants and was elected Governor in 2007.

He was re-elected for a second term in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2011. In 2013, he was elected chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum. In 2015, he contested and won the Senate seat of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District (Ikot Ekpene), polling 422,009 votes to defeat Chief Inibehe Okorie of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akpabio was nominated for the position of Senate Minority Leader by the South-South caucus of the PDP, ratified by the caucus, and announced by the Senate President on 28 July 2015. The PDP lost the majority to the APC in the 2015 general elections. In August 2018, he resigned as Senate Minority Leader after announcing his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In July 2019, he was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari and screened by the Nigerian Senate for a Ministerial appointment. On 21 August 2019, he was sworn in as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs. In June 2022, he resigned from his position as minister for Niger Delta Affairs to contest in the presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He stepped down after the primaries for Bola Tinubu and emerged as the Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.

He went on to defeat his closest rival Emmanuel Enoidem of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, polling 115,401 votes against Enoidem’s 69,838 votes. On 13 June 2023, he was elected President of the Senate of Nigeria with 63 votes, defeating Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who scored 46 votes.

Godswill Akpabio has faced accusations of corruption, specifically diverting over 100 billion Naira from Akwa Ibom State during his tenure as governor (2007-2015). American diplomats called the level of corruption 'exceptional' during his tenure. No charges have been filed, but he was investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, accused him of corruption and was later arraigned by the police for defamation.

In May 2020, Akpabio was summoned by members of the House of Representatives over allegations of misappropriating 40 billion Naira. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Congressional Certificate of Recognition from the United States Congress (2011), the Africa Lifetime Achievement Prize from Kenya, and the Gold Humanitarian Services Award from Niger.

He has also been honored with honorary doctorates from institutions such as the Nigerian Defence Academy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Calabar, University of Uyo, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, and Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo. Other recognitions include being an Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow of Kazaure Polytechnic, and Fellow of the College of Education, Bichi.

Akpabio has been recognized for his contributions to education, governance, and development, including being named the Most Education-Friendly Governor in Nigeria (2008) by the National Parent-Teacher Association and the Best Booster Governor Award for promoting Science, Technology, and Mathematics by the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria.

The University of Calabar renamed its International Conference Centre to the Senate President Godswill Akpabio in 2025. He was inducted into the University of Calabar Hall of Fame in 2025. Awards include Best Governor in Africa, Governor of the Year 2012 (Leadership), Man of the Year 2011 (The Sun), and Best Governor in Nigeria and Outstanding Human Brand 2010 (Billboard World).