By Dalena Reporters l January 2, 2026
ABUJA / UYO — In a surprising and conciliatory move to start the new year, Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, has withdrawn all pending defamation lawsuits he had instituted against several individuals, citing spiritual reflection prompted by a New Year Mass sermon he heard in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The development concludes a series of high-profile legal actions that drew national attention in 2025.
Akpabio made the announcement on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Sacred Heart Parish, where he attended the New Year service. He disclosed that he had previously filed nearly nine defamation suits against people he accused of defaming him, spreading falsehoods and slandering his reputation.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” Akpabio said, according to his remarks at the service. “But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitors to withdraw all lawsuits against them.
Clerical counsel delivered during the homily by the Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish and Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, Very Reverend Father Donatus Udoette, emphasised peace, forgiveness and letting go of past grievances as central to personal and communal well-being. In his sermon, the cleric urged worshippers to set aside hurts in order to move forward with renewed hope and reconciliation — a message Akpabio said resonated deeply with him.
Akpabio’s legal actions, pursued throughout 2025, included some high-profile suits, notably a ₦200 billion defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment — claims he has consistently denied and challenged her to substantiate in court. His wife had also filed related defamation suits in the same period.
The withdrawal of these cases marks a significant turning point in a contentious chapter of Nigerian political and legal discourse, ending a series of litigations that had attracted commentary on free speech, political rivalry and the limits of public criticism. Observers say the decision reflects a gesture of reconciliation as Nigeria begins 2026, even as debates around accountability, reputation and political rivalry continue in the country’s public arena.