Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, has dismissed claims by his estranged wife, Regina Daniels, that he married her when she was 17 years old, describing the allegations as “false, misleading, and malicious.”

In a statement released across his social media handles on Thursday, Nwoko said the reports were part of attempts to tarnish his image amid ongoing marital challenges between him and the Nollywood actress.

“It has come to my attention that false claims are being circulated by Regina, suggesting that I married her when she was 17 years old. These claims are entirely untrue and misleading,” Nwoko stated.

He explained that during his first meeting with Regina, she told him she was 21 years old and presented an Independent National Electoral Commission voter’s card as proof, showing her date of birth as October 10, 1998.

“For clarity, during my first meeting with Regina, I asked her age, and she told me she was 21 years old. I further asked if she had any document to support this, and she presented her INEC voter’s card, which clearly shows that she was born on October 10th, 1998.

“I informed her that I would keep this document in my possession, and I have done so since that day,” he said.

Nwoko added that their marriage took place six years ago, asserting that by all verifiable records, Regina is currently 27 years old.

“According to all verifiable records, our marriage took place six years ago, which means Regina is 27 years old today. Any suggestion that I married her at 17 is false and should not be accepted by the public,” he added.

The lawmaker further alleged that his wife’s claims were influenced by her “current mental condition,” noting that she had started but failed to complete rehabilitation for drug addiction.

“The facts are verifiable and indisputable. Until this is done, I urge the public to approach all her claims with caution and discernment, especially taking into account her current mental condition having started and abandoned her rehabilitation from illegal drug addiction,” Nwoko said.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that Nwoko had accused a “syndicate of pull-down-Ned” group of exploiting his marital crisis to damage his reputation.

The public dispute between Nwoko and Regina Daniels escalated on Sunday after the actress admitted to using illicit substances, alleging that her estranged husband introduced her to drugs for his sexual satisfaction.

In response, Nwoko denied the accusation, insisting that it was Regina’s brother, Sammy, who exposed her to drugs and frustrated all efforts to rehabilitate her.

The pair’s fallout follows weeks of social media exchanges and public statements over alleged domestic violence, which Nwoko has consistently denied, attributing her behaviour to drug and alcohol abuse.

He said Regina’s “current battle with substance abuse” had strained their marriage and reiterated his call for her to undergo rehabilitation.

The controversy deepened after Regina’s brother, Sammy Daniels, was arrested in Lagos, transferred to Abuja, arraigned in court, and later remanded pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

Amid the tension, the actress recently shared that her parents, who had been estranged for years, had reconciled in the wake of her family crisis, particularly her brother’s arrest.