The remarks immediately generated widespread outrage throughout the state. Local residents and Islamic scholars strongly condemned the comments, characterizing them as reckless, provocative, and deeply damaging to traditional family values.

Faced with mounting criticism, Gadaka issued a retraction via a 42-second video shared on the Facebook page of Mamma Mohammed, the Director-General of Press and Media Affairs to Governor Mai Mala Buni. In the video, the APC chairman claimed his remarks had been misinterpreted and were merely intended as playful banter, drawing on traditional joking relationships between the Ngamo and Kare-Kare ethnic groups. Clarifying that his words did not reflect his true principles or aim to promote marital separation, Gadaka formally apologized and withdrew the statement.

Addressing allegations of abandonment, the Force rejected the notion of institutional neglect, stating that all deployed personnel have received their approved entitlements and that command structures are actively managing their welfare. Iniedu warned that framing a strategic security deployment as neglect is misleading and risks damaging both personnel morale and public trust.

Reaffirming the police’s dedication to officer welfare, the Force urged media and the public to verify information before publishing unverified claims from unnamed sources that could disrupt security operations or mislead the public.

Elaborating on the formation of this coalition during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Okonkwo revealed that multiple opposition figures initially converged to adopt the ADC as their collective political platform on July 2, 2026. He noted that key political actors—including the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi—were physically present when this foundational agreement was finalized.

Addressing the subsequent political alignment of Peter Obi, Okonkwo discussed Obi’s transition to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Okonkwo maintained that, based on a judicial ruling, the NDC currently functions legally as a political association rather than a fully recognized political party, a status that is presently undergoing the appeals process. Furthermore, Okonkwo criticized Obi’s departure from the original coalition framework, claiming that Obi was strategically lured away from the ADC and has consequently landed in a politically precarious position within the NDC.