Yobe State APC Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Gadaka has retracted a statement in which he encouraged married women to leave their husbands if blocked from supporting the party, offering to pay their bride price and marry them himself.
The comment was made on Thursday in Nangere during an event where hundreds of people defected to the All Progressives Congress. Addressing the crowd, Gadaka reportedly told women that if their husbands would not allow them to vote for the APC, they should end the marriage. He added that he would cover the bride price and marry them, and he extended the same pledge to any woman who left her marriage because of her commitment to the party.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from local residents and Islamic scholars, who called them reckless and provocative and cautioned that such comments risked damaging family values.
In response to the backlash, Gadaka issued a withdrawal in a 42-second video posted on the Facebook page of Mamma Mohammed, Director-General of Press and Media Affairs to Governor Mai Mala Buni. He said the statement had been misunderstood and framed it as light-hearted banter based on a longstanding tradition of teasing between his Ngamo ethnic group and the Kare-Kare-speaking community.
“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.”
The episode highlights the intense competition for political support in the state ahead of future elections, where party leaders continue to court defectors while navigating cultural and social sensitivities.
A story of courage, wonder, and the transformative power of self-belief; perfect for readers aged 10+ who love adventure. To place order: +234 806 130 3237 | +234 803 582 0870 OR Tap the link to grab a copy:https://www.zeekapublish.com/product/the-magical-life-of-anna
