Senate President Godswill Akpabio has explained his decision to withdraw a defamation suit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and other pending legal actions, describing the move as a deliberate choice anchored on leadership responsibility, moral authority and personal reflection.
Akpabio made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh. He said the decision was not borne out of weakness but a conscious effort to demonstrate restraint and set an example in the management of the National Assembly.
According to the statement, the Senate President noted that presiding over a chamber of 109 senators with diverse ambitions requires credibility, calmness and discipline rather than prolonged legal battles that could distract from legislative duties.
He said the Senate had remained stable and productive under his leadership, with more than 96 bills passed within two years and over 58 assented to by the President, adding that such progress was a product of consensus-building and restraint.
Akpabio explained that the withdrawal of the lawsuits should be seen not only as personal forgiveness but also as a leadership approach aimed at fostering cohesion and stability in the legislature.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor had earlier announced, at the beginning of the year, that he would withdraw all defamation suits he instituted against individuals, a decision that attracted public attention due to the high-profile nature of the cases.
The development followed prolonged political tensions in the Senate and controversies surrounding the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in 2025, which had led to a series of legal actions between both lawmakers.
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Akpabio traced his decision to a moment of reflection during a New Year Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where a sermon on forgiveness, he said, deeply influenced him. He disclosed during the church service that he had instituted nearly nine defamation suits over statements he considered damaging to his reputation and subsequently directed his lawyers to withdraw all the cases.
Among the withdrawn suits was the ₦200bn defamation action filed in late 2025 against Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment, which Akpabio had denied. His wife had also filed separate defamation suits against the Kogi Central senator over claims said to have damaged the family’s reputation.
With Akpabio’s directive, all defamation suits instituted by him have now been formally withdrawn, bringing an end to the highly publicised legal disputes as the new year begins.