18 Facts About Godswill Akpabio

Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is currently serving as the 15th president of the Nigerian Senate since 2023.

Godswill Akpabio 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.

Godswill Akpabio served as minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 up till 2022 when he resigned to seek re-election into the Nigerian senate.

Godswill Akpabio had previously served as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015.

Godswill Akpabio is the son of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

Godswill Akpabio lost his father at an early age and was raised by his mother.

Justice Nsima Godswill Akpabio, his cousin, was a senator in the Second Nigerian Republic.

Godswill Akpabio is married to Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, the founder of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative, a non-governmental organization aimed at redirecting development efforts towards families as a strategy for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Godswill Akpabio briefly worked as a teacher before joining Paul Usoro and Co.

Godswill Akpabio later worked with EMIS Telecoms Limited, a wireless telecommunications company based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Godswill Akpabio was re-elected for a second term in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2011.

Godswill Akpabio was nominated for the position of the Senate Minority Leader by the South-South caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, ratified by the caucus of the PDP in the Senate and announced by the Senate President as Senate Minority Leader on 28 July 2015.

Godswill Akpabio's defection was marked by a Political rally in his hometown at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium, Akwa Ibom State.

In June 2022, Godswill Akpabio resigned from his position as minister for Niger Delta Affairs to contest in the presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress but stepped down on the night of the primaries for the eventual winner Bola Tinubu.

Godswill Akpabio went on to defeat his closest rival Emmanuel Enoidem of the Peoples Democratic Party to become the senator-elect in the 2023 general elections polling 115,401 votes, against Enoidem's 69,838 votes.

Godswill Akpabio was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on accusations that he diverted over 100 billion Naira from Akwa Ibom State during his time as governor with American diplomats calling the level of corruption "exceptional" during his tenure.

In May 2020, Godswill Akpabio was summoned by members of the House of Representatives over the misappropriation of 40 billion Naira.

Godswill Akpabio denied the allegations, noting they emerged only after Akpoti-Uduaghan's committee position changed.