Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has given a detailed explanation for his decision to withdraw all defamation lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and other individuals, describing the move as a conscious leadership choice rooted in faith, moral authority, and the responsibility of guiding a complex legislative institution.
Akpabio, who presides over Nigeria’s National Assembly upper chamber comprising one hundred and nine senators drawn from across Africa’s most populous country, made the clarification through a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital. The statement was released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh.
According to the statement, the withdrawal of the lawsuits was not a sign of weakness or legal exhaustion, but a deliberate interruption of what it described as a growing political culture where court actions have become tools for reputation management rather than justice. The statement noted that Akpabio had previously been firm in defending his name through legal means whenever he felt wronged.
“In a political culture where litigation has become an extension of reputation management, this was no minor gesture. Akpabio had been unapologetic about defending his name through the courts,” the statement read.
“The law, in his hands, had been both shield and sword. To voluntarily lay it down is to interrupt a habit of power. The question, therefore, is not whether Akpabio could afford to forgive. It is why he chose to do so.”
Okay News reports that the Senate President linked his decision directly to the demands of managing a legislature filled with competing ambitions, political pressures, and public expectations. He stressed that leadership in such an environment requires restraint, credibility, and personal example rather than continuous courtroom battles that could distract from governance.
“This is where forgiveness ceases to be sentimental and becomes political philosophy. The same drive for tangible outcomes has characterised, albeit differently, his tenure as Senate President,” the statement added.
Akpabio further highlighted the legislative record of the current Senate as evidence that calm leadership and internal stability produce results. He pointed out that more than ninety-six bills had been passed within two years, with over fifty-eight receiving presidential assent from Nigeria’s President.
“The Senate has been unusually productive and notably calm. In a chamber once notorious for theatrics, this stability is not accidental,” he stated.
“This stability reflects a leadership style that values restraint over spectacle and consensus over conquest. This is why the withdrawal of lawsuits should be read not merely as personal forgiveness but as public modelling. Forgiveness, in this sense, becomes civic pedagogy.”
The Senate President’s decision followed his announcement at the beginning of the year that he would discontinue all defamation cases as part of a New Year resolution to forgive those he considered offenders. The announcement immediately drew national attention due to the high-profile nature of the lawsuits and the political figures involved.
The development occurred amid lingering political tensions in the Senate, particularly controversies surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in north-central Nigeria. Her suspension in 2025 triggered a series of legal actions and public exchanges between both lawmakers.
Akpabio traced his personal turning point to a New Year Mass held at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State in southern Nigeria, where he said a homily on forgiveness resonated deeply with him.
Speaking during the church service, he disclosed that he had initiated nearly nine defamation cases against individuals over statements he believed damaged his reputation.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” he said.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
Among the withdrawn cases was a ₦200 billion defamation suit filed in late 2025 against Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment, which Akpabio had denied and asked her to substantiate in court.
Earlier, Akpabio’s wife had also filed separate defamation suits against the Kogi Central senator, alleging that statements made against her husband harmed the family’s reputation.
The legal confrontations marked a sharp deterioration in relations between the two senators, especially after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025 following her public allegations of misconduct.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had also filed her own legal action, including a ₦100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio and others, claiming that certain remarks had damaged her reputation.
With Akpabio’s directive to his legal team, all defamation suits instituted by him have now been formally withdrawn, effectively closing a chapter of highly publicised legal disputes as the new year unfolds.
Beyond personal reconciliation, the Senate President framed the decision as part of a broader leadership philosophy, arguing that forgiveness and restraint are essential tools for maintaining unity and effectiveness within Nigeria’s legislature.
