After playing in the second division for almost ten years, Ibom Stars gained promotion to the Nigeria Premier League (now called the Nigeria Professional Football League) in the 2007/08 season, thrashing neighbours Calabar Rovers 13–0 at Oron Township Stadium on the last day of the season to edge Bussdor FC and qualify.

The then-chairman Chris Ekong signed coach Charles Bassey (MON) to take charge of the team, assisted by Emmanuel King.

Akwa United played her first Premier League match against El-kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri at the Oron Township Stadium, winning 1–0.

In a league match against Enyimba International, the club was hit with a heavy fine and banished from Uyo Township Stadium for three years after home fans furiously invaded the pitch in response to referee Felicia Okugbe awarding a controversial injury time penalty, with one person believed dead and many others sustaining various injuries.

The management in a desperate attempt to avoid being relegated appointed Coach Patrick Udoh to take charge of the team till the end of the season.

Akwa United made a return to the Big Time - the Premier League in 2011/2012 season (two years after their relegation from the premier league) and put up an improved performances throughout the season to finish on 50 points from 38 games comprising 15 victories, 5draws and 16 losses finishing in 12th, (the club's highest position ever on the log) under coach Solomon Ogbeide.

Although the story of escaping relegation on the last day was the same ( Akwa United defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1–0, with Afeez Awakan scoring the only goal of the match to help the team stay up).

In his first full season in charge of Akwa United as chairman, Elder Paul Bassey restructured the team and brought in a touch of professionalism into the administration of the club which has since manifested positively.

Elder Paul Bassey's lead management contracted one of Nigeria's most experienced and intelligent Coaches Abdu Maikaba to take charge of the team.

Coach Maikaba recruited young determined and talented players such as Alhassan Ibrahim, Moses Ebiye, Aremu Afeez, IfeanyiIfeanyi, Musa Newman, Christian Pyagbara and Emmanuel Iwu and blended them with some star players like Ubong Friday, Otobong Effiong, Godspower Igudia, Ariwachukwu Emmanuel, Cyril Olisema, Chigozie Chilekwu, Ubong Idio, Amaechi Orji etc.

Akwa United made their second appearance on the continent but were stunned 2–1 by Hawks FC of Gambia, in the first leg of the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup preliminary tie played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Sunday, February 11, 2018.

In the second leg at the Independence Stadium, Bakau on February 21, 2018, Cyril Olisema scored a brace to hand Akwa United a 3–2 aggregate win over the Gambian club and passage to the first round.

Michael Ibeh put Akwa United in front with a well-taken freekick in the first half, before Okey Odita drew level for Enugu Rangers, 20 minutes to the end of regulation time.

[9] The Brazilian tactician became the third foreigner after Cameroonian Emmanuel Deutsch and Belgian Maurice Cooreman to handle Akwa United in its 22-year-old history.

[11] Akwa United ended the first round in second place on the Group B log with 19 points from 11 matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding 10.

On August 1, 2021, Akwa United was crowned NPFL Champions for the first time in their existence after a dominating winning display of 5–2 against MFM FC at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo with a game to spare.

As at the time of being crowned champions, which occurred during the Match Week 37, they had a total win of 19, 14 draws and 4 losses in a feat unbecoming of a Nigerian football club.

Akaninyene Dickson Sunny Cosmas Austine George Monday Solomon Edikan Dominic Akwa United Head Coaches since 1997–1998 Nigeria football season 8.