Stephen Abuwatseya, a driver for a ride-hailing service, publicly apologized to Alex Ikwechegh, House of Representatives member for Aba North/South in Abia State, following a widely publicized physical altercation. The incident, captured in a viral video, showed Ikwechegh striking Abuwatseya after an exchange escalated during a package delivery, as reported by Punch.

In a video statement released on Thursday, Abuwatseya expressed regret for any actions that may have provoked Ikwechegh and asked Nigerians to forgive and move forward. Addressing the public, he stated, “Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a few days ago. I actually want to apologize to him for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger.”

Abuwatseya went on to call for national unity, saying, “I want to tell Nigerians that it’s not time for us to start dividing ourselves based on religion, tribes, or regions. We should actually come together, see how we can unite this nation, and move it forward.”

Abuwatseya also extended gratitude to his family and supporters, adding, “I want to use this medium to thank my family members, my parents, my brothers, my uncles and everybody that stood by me. I want to thank all of you. I love you all. Thank you. God bless Nigeria.”

The altercation occurred on October 28 at Ikwechegh’s residence in Maitama, Abuja, when the driver asked Ikwechegh to retrieve a package of snails intended for him. The heated exchange was caught on camera, showing Ikwechegh repeatedly slapping the driver in frustration. Following the release of the footage, Ikwechegh issued a public apology through social media, expressing regret and acknowledging that his behavior was unbecoming of a public servant.

In his apology, Ikwechegh extended his regrets to Abuwatseya, the Nigerian Police Force, and the National Assembly. He confirmed that he and Abuwatseya had engaged in alternative dispute resolution, leading to what he described as a “mutual and respectful agreement.”