Austin Akobundu

Austin Okwudiri Akobundu ( born 10 March 1956) is a Nigerian politician who is the current senator representing Abia Central. Austin Akobundu is a retired colonel of the Nigerian Army and former Minister of State for Defense under President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.He is the current Senator representing Abia Central in the Senate. He replaced Darlington Nwokocha whose election was nullified by the Court of Appeal on 4 November 2023. He was sworn in on 15 November 2023. Initially representing PDP, Akobundu defected to ADC in March 2026, participating in the Senate primaries ahead of 2027 Nigerian general election.

Early life and education

Austin Oyangwu Akobundu was born on 10 March 1956 in Oloko, Ikwuano Local Government Area of present-day Abia State, Nigeria.

He received his early education in Enugu and Umuahia before enrolling at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he underwent military training. He also obtained a Diploma in Telecommunications/Electronic Engineering from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife.

During his military career, Akobundu attended several professional and military courses in communications and signal operations.

Career

Austin Oyangwu Akobundu is a retired Nigerian Army officer who built a career in military communications before moving into politics and public administration.

He joined the Nigerian Army as an officer cadet of the 22 Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1977. He served in the Nigerian Army Signals Corps and held various command and instructional positions, including service at the Nigerian Army School of Signals.

During his military career, Akobundu served as aide-de-camp to senior military officers and worked as a Military Technical Assistant on telecommunications matters to the pioneer Military Administrator of Bayelsa State. He retired from the Nigerian Army in 2000 as a colonel.

After retirement, he became involved in business activities and served as chairman of Nostro Group of Companies before entering public service and politics.

Political career

Austin Oyangwu Akobundu transitioned from military service into partisan politics and became active in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He served as a member of the PDP National Executive Committee and held several party leadership positions, including National Vice Chairman (South East) of the party. In 2017, he was elected National Organising Secretary of the PDP, where he was responsible for party organisation and coordination of party activities.

Before his emergence as a party official, Akobundu served in the federal government as Minister of State for Defence under President Goodluck Jonathan from 2014 to 2015.

In 2022, he secured the PDP ticket for the Abia Central Senatorial District and contested the 2023 senatorial election. Following a court decision that nullified the election of Darlington Nwokocha, Akobundu was declared winner and was sworn in as Senator representing Abia Central in November 2023.

Legislative activities

Since his inauguration as Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District in November 2023, Austin Oyangwu Akobundu has participated in legislative activities in the Senate.

He sponsored the Federal College of Health Technology, Ikwuano (Establishment) Bill, 2024, the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Umuahia North (Establishment) Bill, 2024, and the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Technical Skills Development, Osisioma (Establishment) Bill, 2024.

His legislative interests, as published by the National Assembly, include security, rural development and digital communications.

Community activities Since arriving in the Senate, Akobundu has been active in supporting access to education and recently facilitated scholarships for 113 students across Local Government Areas in Abia State and trained 400 students on computer skills in Umuahia, Abia State.