Alex Ikwechegh, the member of the House of Representatives for Aba North and South Federal Constituency, has shared that he and Stephen Abuwatseya, the Bolt driver he assaulted last year, are now friends. The incident, which drew significant public backlash, involved Ikwechegh slapping and verbally insulting Abuwatseya after the driver delivered a package to his Abuja residence.
In a video captured by Abuwatseya, Ikwechegh was seen calling the driver derogatory names and even threatened to “make him disappear.” The assault occurred after Abuwatseya asked the politician to step outside to collect a delivery, which reportedly angered Ikwechegh. The confrontation escalated when the lawmaker felt that his personal space was being disrespected, especially in his own home.
The video of the assault went viral, leading to widespread criticism of Ikwechegh’s actions. In the face of the scandal, the 44-year-old lawmaker publicly apologized for his behavior, stating that he and Abuwatseya had resorted to “alternative dispute resolution methods” to resolve their issues. This approach, he noted, was an attempt to mend the relationship and avoid further conflict.
However, reflecting on the matter three months after the incident, Ikwechegh shared during an interview on Channels TV on January 28, 2024, that he and Abuwatseya had moved past the altercation and are now on good terms. The politician referred to the episode as a “low moment” in his life but emphasized that it helped him build a relationship with Abuwatseya.
“What happened was quite unfortunate, but I take it that it’s an avenue for me as a person to also build a relationship with the young man that came. Today we are friends. It was taken to court, but of course, the court found no merits, and it was struck out,” Ikwechegh said.
Ikwechegh also noted that many Nigerians did not fully understand the events leading up to the assault. He explained that, in his view, the sanctity of his home had been violated, which contributed to his reaction. He admitted that the video was a “low moment” but argued that it did not reflect his true character.
“The video that everybody saw was a low moment. I felt the sanctity of my home was being desecrated. Of course, part of the video you people saw, is the part that people saw, people actually do not know what happened before that reaction. Like they say, actions preempt reactions, but whatever anybody must have seen is not indicative of who I am,” Ikwechegh explained.
The lawmaker further clarified that his relationship with Abuwatseya had improved and they were now friends. He also shared that he had developed close ties with Abuwatseya’s pastor, calling the entire experience a turning point that allowed him to meet new people.
“The young man is my friend now. I’m very close to his bishop, his pastor. And I’ve met a bunch of new friends, and today, the whole Nigerian now knows me…I guess, we’ve moved on,” Ikwechegh concluded.
