By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all defamation suits he instituted against several individuals, saying a New Year’s Day sermon on peace and forgiveness compelled him to abandon the legal battles.
Akpabio disclosed on Thursday during a New Year Mass at Sacred Heart Parish, Uyo, that the homily delivered by the parish priest prompted him to reconsider his decision to pursue the cases.
According to the Senate President, he had instituted close to nine lawsuits against persons he accused of defaming and maligning his character, but resolved to discontinue them after reflecting on the message preached at the service.
In his sermon, the Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish, Aka, and Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, the Very Rev Fr Donatus Udoette, described peace as humanity’s greatest need and urged worshippers to forgive and let go of past grievances.
“You have to let go of the past, no matter what it was,” the cleric said. “All of us carry some luggage of pain and hurt. You have to let go if you want to move on.”
*All suits against Natasha, others withdrawn after homily
With the directive, Akpabio effectively brought to an end all pending defamation-related legal actions, signalling a gesture of reconciliation and a fresh start at the beginning of the year.
The decision comes amid a series of highly publicised legal and political disputes involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which have drawn national attention and stirred debate around free speech, gender, power, and accountability in Nigeria’s political space.
The rift between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan became prominent following sharp exchanges in the Senate, culminating in her suspension as the Kogi Central lawmaker after she openly criticised the Senate President over actions taken against her by the chamber.
In response, Akpabio and his allies filed multiple defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan and other individuals who echoed or amplified the allegations.
The suits, estimated to be close to nine, sought retractions, apologies and substantial damages, and were widely viewed as a test of the limits of political criticism and dissent in Nigeria’s democracy.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently maintained that her statements were made in the public interest and amounted to legitimate political expression, vowing to defend herself vigorously in court.
As the legal battles unfolded, they came to symbolise deeper tensions within the political class, reflecting struggles over power, reputation and accountability.
Akpabio’s abrupt decision to withdraw all the suits, citing a New Year message of peace and forgiveness, therefore marks a significant turning point, closing a contentious chapter that had dominated headlines and legal discourse, and raising expectations of de-escalation and reconciliation in Nigeria’s often combative political arena.
