Yobe APC Chairman Apologises, Withdraws Call for Women to Divorce Anti-APC Husbands

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Yobe State, Muhammad Gadaka, has apologised to members of the public and withdrawn his controversial call for women to divorce husbands who prevent them from voting for the APC in the 2027 general elections.

Gadaka said his earlier comment was made as a joke and was never intended to encourage married women to end their marriages because of political disagreements.

“I withdraw my earlier statement that any woman whose husband prevents her from voting for the APC should end her marriage, and that I would marry her. I apologise to the public; I only said it as a joke,” Gadaka said.

The APC chairman had made the controversial statement while addressing party supporters during a political gathering in Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State.

During the gathering, Gadaka reportedly told women who were being prevented by their husbands from supporting the APC to consider leaving their marriages.

He further said he would be willing to pay the dowry of such women and marry them.

The comment quickly attracted public attention after a video of the event was circulated on social media platforms.

The statement generated criticism, with many questioning the appropriateness of linking marital relationships and family decisions with political allegiance.

Some members of the public viewed the remark as capable of creating unnecessary tension within families, particularly at a time when political activities are intensifying ahead of the 2027 elections.

In response to the reactions, Gadaka released a video explaining his position and distancing himself from the earlier statement.

He maintained that the comment was made within the context of a traditional joking relationship between communities and should not have been interpreted as a serious instruction to married women to seek divorce.

According to him, he had no intention of encouraging couples to separate or using his political position to interfere in marital relationships.

“My statement was just a joke and does not in any way represent the ideals I stand for or intend to encourage divorce among married people,” he said.

The Yobe APC chairman expressed regret over the controversy generated by his statement and formally withdrew the comment while apologising to Nigerians who may have been offended by it.

He stressed that his remarks should not be regarded as an endorsement of divorce or as an instruction to women to abandon their marriages because their husbands support a different political party.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of increasing political mobilisation across Nigeria as political parties and their supporters prepare for the 2027 general elections.

With political activities expected to intensify in the coming months, politicians are increasingly engaging communities, religious and traditional leaders, women, youths and other groups in an effort to strengthen their support base.

Gadaka’s apology and withdrawal have brought some clarification to the controversy, with the APC chairman insisting that his original comment was made in jest rather than as a genuine call for women to divorce their husbands over political differences.

The incident, however, has also renewed discussions about the need for political leaders and public officials to exercise caution in their public statements, particularly when addressing sensitive issues involving marriage, family relationships and personal choices.

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