ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North, has denied allegations that he married Regina Daniels at the age of 17, describing the claims as “entirely untrue and misleading”.
In a statement shared on X, the senator said Regina told him she was 21 during their first meeting and presented an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter’s card as proof.
The card, he said, indicated her date of birth as 10 October 1998.
“It has come to my attention that false claims are being circulated by Regina, suggesting that I married her when she was 17 years old,” Nwoko wrote.
“These claims are entirely untrue and misleading.
“For clarity, during my first meeting with Regina, I asked her age, and she told me she was 21 years old. I further asked if she had any document to support this, and she presented her INEC voter’s card, which clearly shows that she was born on October 10th, 1998. I informed her that I would keep this document in my possession, and I have done so since that day.”
Nwoko said his account is corroborated by Regina’s mother, referencing an interview she granted to the BBC after the marriage.
He insisted that according to “all verifiable records”, the marriage took place six years ago, placing Regina at 27 years old today.
He urged the public to treat the circulating allegations “with caution and discernment”, linking the claims to what he described as Regina’s “mental condition” relating to drug addiction and her abandoned rehabilitation.
“The facts are verifiable and indisputable. Any suggestion that I married her at 17 is false and should not be accepted by the public,” he said.
“Until this is done, I urge the public to approach all her claims with caution and discernment especially taking into account her current mental condition having started and abandoned her rehabilitation from illegal drug addiction.”
Nwoko said the allegations misrepresent both the timeline and the circumstances of their marriage, adding that he stands by the documentation in his possession.
