President of the Senate, Mr Godswill Akpabio, has explained that his decision to withdraw several defamation suits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and others was informed by personal conviction, faith and the responsibility of leading the National Assembly.
A statement issued on Friday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Eseme Eyiboh, said the move reflected a deliberate choice to prioritise national interest over prolonged legal disputes.
According to the statement, Akpabio decided to step away from the growing culture of using court actions as instruments of political confrontation, despite having previously taken firm legal steps to protect his reputation.
It stated that the Senate President believes effective leadership of a chamber comprising 109 senators with varied interests requires restraint, maturity and the ability to rise above personal grievances.
The statement added that constant engagement in litigation could distract the legislature from its core mandate of lawmaking and oversight.
Akpabio was quoted as saying that his leadership philosophy is anchored on building consensus and maintaining stability within the Senate.
The statement highlighted that under his leadership, the Senate has passed over 96 bills within two years, with more than 58 already signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
It also noted that the decision followed a period of personal reflection during a New Year Mass at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to the statement, a homily on forgiveness delivered during the service prompted the Senate President to reassess his legal actions against individuals he accused of defaming him.
Akpabio was quoted as saying that he had instituted nearly nine defamation suits before deciding to withdraw all of them.
“I had almost nine cases in court against people who defamed me and slandered my name, but after listening to the priest, I realised the message was meant for me, and I decided to direct my lawyer to withdraw all the cases,” he said.
Among the suits withdrawn was a N200 billion defamation case filed in late 2025 against Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment, which Akpabio had denied.
NAN reports that Akpabio’s wife had also previously instituted separate legal actions against the Kogi Central senator, alleging damage to the family’s reputation.
The withdrawal of the cases has since generated public reactions across political and legal circles.
