Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Nigerians and members of the upcoming 10th National Assembly to assess him based on his extensive experience rather than his brief tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

Akpabio expressed his preference to be judged by his 36-year career as a lawyer, six-year stint as a commissioner, and eight-year tenure as governor.

He made these remarks during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Saturday night.

Akpabio, who is the senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North West, is among the contenders for the position of Senate President in the 10th National Assembly, set to be inaugurated on June 6.

He was initially elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2015 and became the Minority Leader under the Peoples Democratic Party before defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Although Akpabio resigned as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to participate in the presidential primaries of the APC for the 2023 general elections, he later stepped down in favor of President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

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Despite being the preferred candidate of the President-elect and APC, former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, and Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, have vowed not to withdraw from the Senate Presidency race.

Akpabio emphasized that he has not changed and should not be judged solely based on his ministerial appointment for the Niger Delta, which is known for its challenges.

Instead, he urged people to consider his track record as a lawyer, commissioner, and governor.

He also pledged to maintain the January-December budget cycle, one of the key accomplishments of the outgoing Assembly, if elected as Senate President.