Massive Outrage as Yobe Ruling Party Boss Urges Wives to Seek Divorce, Quickly Retracts Remarks After Backlash

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State, Alhaji Mohammed Gadaka, has come under heavy public criticism after urging married women to divorce their husbands if they are barred from voting for the ruling party, before hastily retracting the statement amid mounting anger.

The controversy erupted following a campaign gathering in Nangere town, where Gadaka was receiving hundreds of opposition defectors into the APC fold. Addressing the crowd, the party chairman told female supporters that partisan allegiance should supersede marital obedience, declaring that any woman whose husband refuses to allow her to cast her ballot for the APC should walk away from the marriage.

In video footage that quickly circulated across social media platforms, Gadaka was heard telling the audience that if affected women stood up to their spouses and dissolved their unions, he would personally step forward to cover their new bride prices and marry them.

The remarks immediately sparked condemnation across Yobe State and the wider northern region. Religious leaders, civil society advocates, and community elders denounced the statement as reckless and dangerous, warning that sacrificing marital harmony on the altar of partisan politics undermines foundational cultural and religious values. Many commentators questioned why party chieftains would encourage domestic discord simply to capture votes.

Faced with a swift wave of indignation, Gadaka made a public turnaround, issuing a formal apology and withdrawing the comments entirely. In a video message released through official government media channels, the party boss claimed his words were misconstrued and taken out of context.

Gadaka explained that his comment was intended solely as lighthearted teasing rooted in the long-standing cultural bantering tradition between his native Ngamo ethnic group and the Kare-Kare people. He maintained that he holds marriage and family life in the highest regard, clarifying that he never intended to advocate for divorce or encourage broken homes.

The controversy adds to growing unease over inflammatory campaign language by political figures in the North-East ahead of the 2027 general elections. It comes just days after the Nigeria Police launched an inquiry into Borno State Youth and Sports Commissioner Sainna Buba over public threats to flog opponents, prompting civil rights organizations to demand stricter ethical standards and accountability for political actors on the podium.