Senate President Godswill Akpabio says he has asked his attorneys to dismiss any legal proceedings he has filed against persons for defamation.

Akpabio spoke on Thursday at the New Year’s Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

The Senate President stated that he had filed nearly nine cases against individuals who, he claimed, defamed and slandered his name.

“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals, against people who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name, and all,” he said.

Akpabio said a message delivered by the priest during the mass prompted a change of heart.

“But listening to the priest, I suddenly realised he was talking to me. So I hereby direct my solicitors to withdraw all lawsuits against me,” he said.

In December 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation action against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, in Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, alleging sexual harassment against him.

In a February interview with Arise TV, Akpoti-Uduaghan said that the Senate President made sexual approaches on her in his office and house in Akwa Ibom.

The senator said that her troubles in the Senate began when she refused sexual approaches from Akpabio. Akpabio has frequently refuted the claims.

Prior to the charges, Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan had a heated dispute on the floor of the upper legislative chamber about a change in seating arrangements.