10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About New Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, emerged as the Senate President for the 10th National Assembly.

Naija News earlier reported that Akpabio, who is the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress, defeated Abdulaziz Yari to succeed Ahmed Lawan.

Below are 10 things you might not know about Akpabio, who was also a minister during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

1. Godswill Akpabio is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022.

2. He resigned on 11 May 2022 on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to contest in the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress.

3. Akpabio had a brief stint as a teacher and as an associate partner with Paul Usoro and Co. a law firm in Nigeria.

4. The Senator lost his father early in life and was raised by his mother.

5. In 2002, he was appointed Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources by the then Governor Obong Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State.

6. In 2015, he contested and won the Senate seat of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.

7. Akpabio was nominated for the position of Senate Minority Leader by the South-South caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

8. In August 2018, he resigned as the Senate Minority Leader, after he had announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress.

9. He was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on accusations that he diverted over 100 billion Naira from Akwa Ibom State during his time as governor (2007-2015).

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