The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State, Mohammed Gadaka, has sparked controversy after urging married women to divorce husbands who prevent them from voting for the party in the 2027 general elections.
Gadaka made the controversial remark on Thursday, September 3, during an APC campaign rally in Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Speaking to women at the gathering, the APC chairman urged them to stand up to husbands who opposed their decision to vote for the party, even if it meant ending their marriages.
“If your husband won’t allow you to vote for APC, stand up to him and seek a divorce. If you leave the marriage, I will pay your dowry and marry you,” Gadaka said.
The comment, which was captured in a video and circulated online, has generated criticism, with some residents and Islamic scholars describing it as reckless and inappropriate.
Critics argued that the statement could undermine family values and unnecessarily drag marital relationships into political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, Gadaka has since apologised and withdrawn the remark.
In a video shared on Friday by Yobe State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, the APC chairman said his comment had been misconstrued and was intended as a joke.
“My statement was just a joke and does not in any way represent the ideals I stand for or intended to encourage divorce among married people.
“I offer apologies for my statement, and I hereby withdraw it,” Gadaka said.
The controversy comes as political parties intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with women representing a significant voting bloc.
Gadaka’s remarks and subsequent apology have continued to generate reactions on social media and among political observers, particularly over the use of marriage and family relationships as part of political campaign messaging.
