The Yobe State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly sparked controversy after allegedly telling women to leave their husbands if they were prevented from voting for the party.
The chairman was reportedly heard saying that any woman whose husband would not allow her to vote APC should leave the marriage.
He allegedly added that he would pay her bride price and marry her.
The statement, which is circulating widely online, has triggered reactions and debate over the role of political leaders in voters’ personal and family decisions.
However, the full context of the remarks has not been independently established from the available reports.
The controversy also raises questions about the freedom of voters to make their political choices without pressure from family members or politicians.
Should a political party chairman encourage a married woman to leave her husband because of how she intends to vote?
Political choices are personal, and husbands and wives may legitimately support different candidates or parties.
A husband can support the APC while his wife supports the ADC.
A parent can vote for the PDP while their child chooses the NDC.
That diversity of political choices is part of democracy.
The ballot belongs to the individual voter not to a spouse, political party chairman, governor or any other political figure.
Political leaders should therefore focus on convincing voters through their policies and ideas rather than attempting to influence their marriages or personal relationships.
