Yobe APC chair, Gadaka, apologises after facing backlash for urging wives to divorce husbands who stop them from voting for his party

​Gadaka noted that his comment was misconstrued and that it was only intended as “joking banter”.

​By Kehinde Okeowo

​The Yobe State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mohammed Gadaka, has made a U-turn and apologised for initial advice that wives whose husbands prevent them from voting for his party in the upcoming general elections should divorce them.

​He recanted his initial statement in a 42-second video shared on Facebook by the Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to Governor Mai Mala Buni, Mamman Mohammed.

​Earlier, while addressing hundreds of defectors in Nangere town on Thursday, Gadaka urged married women to leave their husbands if they refused to allow them to vote for the APC.

​He also pledged to pay the “new bride price” of any woman who left her marriage over allegiance to the party.

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​However, his comment sparked outrage across the state, with many residents, including Islamic scholars, describing it as reckless, provocative, and capable of undermining family values.

​Following the backlash, the APC chairman withdrew the statement, noting that his comment was misconstrued and that it was only intended as “joking banter” based on the age-long practice of teasing between his Ngamo people and the Kare-Kare-speaking people.

​Speaking in the now-trending clip, Gadaka said: “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.”

​He added: “I offer apologies for my statement, and I hereby withdraw it.”