Yobe State APC Chairman Mohammed Gadaka has apologised and withdrawn a controversial remark in which he urged married women to divorce husbands who prevent them from voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gadaka made the original comment on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while addressing hundreds of defectors in Nangere, Yobe State, before issuing an apology amid widespread criticism.
Gadaka Urged Women To Leave Marriages
During the event, Gadaka was quoted as telling women whose husbands would not allow them to vote for the APC to stand up to them and seek divorce.
He reportedly added that he would pay the bride price of any woman who left her marriage over her support for the party and marry her.
The remark quickly attracted criticism, with residents and Islamic scholars describing it as reckless and inappropriate for a political leader.
APC Chairman Calls Remark A Joke
Following the backlash, Gadaka released a clarification in a video that circulated widely on social media.
In the roughly 42-second video, Gadaka described the earlier comment as “just a usual joking banter”, saying it was rooted in traditional teasing between his Ngamo people and the Kare-Kare-speaking community.
He stressed that the comment “does not in any way represent the ideals I stand for or intended to encourage divorce among married people.”
Gadaka Withdraws Statement
Gadaka then apologised for the remark and formally withdrew it.
“I offer apologies for my statement, and I hereby withdraw it,” he said.
The apology video was also shared by Mamman Mohammed, Director-General of Press and Media Affairs to Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni.
The controversy has continued to attract attention online, where some users criticised the original remark while others discussed it in humorous terms.
Comment Comes Ahead Of 2027 Elections
The episode comes as political parties intensify grassroots mobilisation and campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under Nigeria’s electoral system, eligible citizens have the right to choose their preferred candidates without coercion, including within their households.
Gadaka’s withdrawal has now brought the immediate controversy to an end, although the incident has continued to generate discussion about the conduct of political leaders during election mobilisation.
