Cross River Lawmaker Apologises After Wife Battery Suspension

Hon. Ovat Dickson Agbor, the Cross River State House of Assembly member for Obubra 1 Constituency, has issued a public apology following his indefinite suspension over allegations of battering his wife, Glory Agbor. The incident, which erupted into a major scandal after photos of her badly swollen face circulated widely on social media, stemmed from a heated dispute over infidelity claims. Agbor’s suspension by colleagues reflects the Assembly’s zero tolerance for such conduct, disrupting legislative duties in Calabar.

Incident Background

The altercation reportedly began at a public event near the Assembly Quarters, where Agbor accused Glory of infidelity and excessive drinking, drawing onlookers. It escalated that night at home into physical violence, leaving her face battered with eyes nearly swollen shut; neighbours alerted authorities after spotting her condition. Human rights activist Agba Jalingo claimed this was not isolated, citing a prior assault where a senior official rushed her to hospital and another lawmaker’s home for aid; he also noted Governor Bassey Otu once rebuked Agbor publicly.​

Social media exploded with outrage, fuelling demands for investigation under Cross River’s Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, which criminalises domestic abuse with penalties like imprisonment. Viral images intensified scrutiny, though Glory later dismissed them as exaggerated or possibly AI-generated, insisting no violence occurred and apologising for “misconceptions” while quitting a legislators’ wives group.

Glory Agbor initially posted defences via associates who held her phone post-incident, denying assault and blaming friends for misleading posts. She urged privacy, saying every marriage has disputes but theirs involved none violent, and affirmed resolution with her husband. Sources contradicted her, alleging in-laws controlled her accounts to post apologies; she later doubled down, claiming viral photos were false.

This U-turn drew scepticism online, with calls for police probes despite her pleas to “leave my family alone.” The mother of four’s appeals highlighted family pressures amid public glare.

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Lawmaker’s Full Apology

In his statement, Agbor expressed regret to Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu, First Lady Eyoanwan Otu, Speaker Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, fellow lawmakers, Obubra constituents, traditional rulers, APC stakeholders, and his own family—including Glory. He accepted blame for not addressing rumours sooner, which bred speculation, while disputing some online narratives as inaccurate.​

“I remain committed to serving my constituents with humility, responsibility, and renewed dedication,” Agbor concluded, signing as Obubra 1 representative. The apology seeks to mend his image after the Assembly’s Thursday suspension halted his lawmaking role.

The scandal underscores rising scrutiny on lawmakers’ private conduct in Nigeria, especially under VAPP laws adopted statewide. Public reactions split between privacy advocates and those pushing accountability, given Agbor’s taxpayer-funded position. No police arrest reports surfaced by press time, but the saga spotlights domestic violence persistence despite legal frameworks.