Godswill Akpabio is the President of the Senate and chairman of the National Assembly. A lawyer and former telecoms executive, he governed Akwa Ibom State for eight years, led the PDP minority in the Senate, crossed to the APC in 2018 and served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs under President Muhammadu Buhari.1

Early life and education

Akpabio was born on 9 December 1962 in Ukana, in Essien Udim, and was raised by his mother after his father died when he was young. He attended the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, and studied law at the University of Calabar.1

Career before politics

He taught briefly, practised law as an associate partner at Paul Usoro & Co., and became managing director of EMIS Telecoms in Lagos.1

Akwa Ibom State

Between 2002 and 2006 he served as commissioner for petroleum and natural resources, local government and chieftaincy affairs, and lands and housing. He was elected governor for the PDP in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. His government introduced free and compulsory primary and secondary education in 2008 and built the 30,000-seat stadium in Uyo, which carries his name.1

His tenure also drew corruption allegations. The EFCC investigated claims that more than ₦100 billion was diverted while he was governor; no charges have been filed, and he has denied wrongdoing.1

Senate and the move to the APC

Akpabio was elected senator for Akwa Ibom North-West in 2015 and became Senate Minority Leader. In August 2018 he resigned the post and joined the APC. He lost his seat in the 2019 election.1

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (2019–2022)

As minister he supervised the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and a forensic audit of its accounts. In 2020 a House of Representatives committee investigated alleged misspending of about ₦40 billion by the commission’s interim management, which he oversaw. The audit report was handed to President Buhari in 2021, but critics noted that it led to few prosecutions.12 He resigned in 2022 to seek the APC presidential ticket and stepped down for Bola Tinubu on the day of the primary.1

Senate President (2023–present)

Akpabio returned to the Senate in 2023 and, with the backing of the APC leadership, was elected Senate President on 13 June 2023 with 63 votes against 46 for Abdulaziz Yari.1

In February 2025 Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central accused him of sexual harassment after a dispute over her seating in the chamber. Akpabio denied the allegation. The Senate rejected her petition on procedural grounds and suspended her for six months for misconduct. A Federal High Court later described the suspension as excessive and ordered the Senate to recall her, while also ordering her to apologise for a social-media post. When the six months ended in September 2025, the Senate said she could not resume while court cases were pending.345

2027

In May 2026 the APC affirmed Akpabio as its sole candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West in the 2027 Senate election.6

Personal life

Akpabio is married to Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, and they have five children. He is a Catholic.1

References

  1. Godswill Akpabio. Wikipedia, accessed October 2026. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. At last, NDDC forensic auditors present report. ThisDay, 10 August 2021. ↩

  3. Nigerian Senate suspends female senator who made sexual harassment claim. Al Jazeera, 7 March 2025. ↩

  4. Sexual harassment allegation: a timeline of Senator Natasha’s trials, tribulation. ICIR, 7 July 2025. ↩

  5. Senate blocks Natasha’s resumption, insists on due process. ICIR, September 2025. ↩

  6. 2027: Akpabio, Barau, Bamidele, Kalu, Ndume, others win APC primary tickets. ThisDay, 19 May 2026. ↩