The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing growing criticism over controversial remarks by two of its northern leaders as political mobilisation for the 2027 elections gathers momentum.
In Yobe State, APC Chairman Mohammed Gadaka caused a stir after telling women to consider divorcing husbands who prevent them from voting for the ruling party.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Nangere on Thursday, Gadaka went further, offering to pay the dowry of any woman who left her marriage because of her husband’s opposition to the APC.
The remark triggered an angry reaction from residents and Islamic scholars, who described it as irresponsible and potentially damaging to family values.
Gadaka later apologised and withdrew the statement, insisting that he was only joking and that his comment was not intended to encourage married women to divorce their husbands.
But the controversy did not end there.
It came just days after Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, was also embroiled in controversy over a remark reportedly threatening that those who refused to support the APC in the 2027 election would be flogged.
The two incidents have raised fresh concerns about the increasingly combative rhetoric surrounding the next general election, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria where political parties are already intensifying grassroots mobilisation.
Critics say politicians should be campaigning on policies, performance and persuasion rather than making statements that could be interpreted as threats or pressure on voters.
The controversies also highlight the high stakes surrounding the 2027 contest, with the APC expected to face a stronger challenge from opposition forces seeking to wrest power from the ruling party.
For Gadaka, the immediate political storm may have been softened by his apology. But his “dump your husband” remark has already joined the growing list of controversial statements threatening to overshadow the APC’s early 2027 campaign.
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