{
  "id": 5550842,
  "title": "Divorce husband stopping you from voting APC — Yobe APC chairman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/divorce-husband-stopping-you-from-voting-apc-yobe-apc-chairman",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T12:14:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/divorce-husband-if-he-stops-you-from-voting-apc-yobe-apc-chairman/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State, Muhammad Gadaka, has suggested that women whose husbands refuse to allow them to vote for the party should seek a divorce, offering to pay the costs of marriage for any women who do so. This statement was made during a campaign rally in Nangere, Yobe State. A video of Gadaka's remarks was shared by News Central. However, the comment has faced criticism, with residents and Islamic scholars labeling it as reckless and provocative, warning that it could damage family values. Gadaka later apologized and withdrew his statement, stating it was intended as a joke.",
  "summary": "The Yobe State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammad Gadaka, has sparked outrage with a remark urging married women to divorce their husbands if they prevent them from voting for the party. According to the Punch, Gadaka made the comment at a campaign rally in Nangere, Yobe State, offering to pay the dowries of women who leave their marriages.\n\nGadaka's statement has been widely criticized by residents and Islamic scholars, who describe it as reckless and provocative, and warn that it could undermine family values. The Daily Post Nigeria reports that many residents across the state have expressed outrage over the comment.\n\nGadaka has since apologized and withdrawn his comment amid the backlash. In a video shared on social media, he claimed that his remark was intended as a joke and was misconstrued. According to the Daily Post Nigeria, Gadaka attributed the comment to a \"usual joking banter\" based on a long-standing practice of teasing between his people and another group.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Divorce husband if he stops you from voting APC — Yobe APC chairman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/divorce-husband-if-he-stops-you-from-voting-apc-yobe-apc-chairman",
        "published": "2026-09-04T11:42:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "‘Divorce your husband’: Yobe APC Chairman apologises, withdraws comment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/divorce-your-husband-yobe-apc-chairman-apologises-withdraws-comment",
        "published": "2026-09-04T13:10:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}