The Yobe State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mohammed Gadaka, has urged married women to divorce their husbands if the men stop them from voting for the APC in the forthcoming general elections.
Gadaka made the remarks on Thursday in Nangere town while receiving hundreds of defectors into the party. He stated that women should assert their right to vote for the APC regardless of opposition from their spouses and pledged to pay the bride price (or “new bride price”) of any woman who left her marriage over allegiance to the party.
According to reports of his address, Gadaka said: “If your husband won’t allow you to vote for the APC, stand up to him and seek a divorce… If you leave the marriage, I will pay your dowry and marry you.”
The comment generated widespread criticism across Yobe State. Residents and Islamic scholars described it as reckless, provocative, and capable of undermining family values.
Following the backlash, Gadaka withdrew the statement. In a 42-second video shared on the Facebook page of Mamma Mohammed, Director-General of Press and Media Affairs to Governor Mai Mala Buni, the APC chairman said his words had been misconstrued.
“My statement was just a usual joking banter and does not in any way represent the ideals I stand for or intended to encourage divorce among married people,” Gadaka said. “I offer apologies for my statement, and I hereby withdraw it.”
He explained that the remark was intended as traditional teasing banter between his Ngamo people and the Kare-Kare-speaking community.