Rita Daniels, mother of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, has spoken about her daughter’s marriage to politician and businessman, Senator Ned Nwoko, saying she never supported it from the beginning.

The clarification surfaced online amid renewed public attention after a viral video showed Regina accusing her husband of domestic violence.

In response, Tribune Online reports that Nwoko denied the allegations, insisting that Regina’s struggles stem from drug and alcohol use. He also noted that none of his five other wives had ever accused him of abuse.

Earlier, speaking with BBC News Igbo in an interview recorded on October 3, Rita addressed long-standing claims that she arranged or “sold” her daughter into the marriage. She denied the reports, saying she was the last person to know about their relationship.

“When Regina got married, and the world was saying I was the one who forced her to marry a much older man. They said I carried her and sold her to an elderly man,” she said.

“What they did not know is that even I did not know when they started the relationship. With everything that was going on, I was the last person to know they were in a relationship.

“And as my daughter, I called her and asked what was going on, and what she answered me ‘Have I ever introduced you to anyone as the person I want to get married to aside from Ned Nwoko?’”

“My daughter, who never used to throw back words at me, started throwing back words. I noticed she was beginning to get stubborn about it, and then I was like, ‘What is actually going on?’ In the political terrain, the husband and I are opponents.”

Rita said Nwoko did not approach her about marriage until after his political campaign. Faced with her daughter’s determination, she said she had little choice but to stand by her.

“Immediately after the election, it was then that her husband told me he was interested in marrying my child. I was weak, but what was I to do? I stood with my daughter, was I to chase her away?” she said.

“So when I saw everything, I advised as much as I could as a mother. That they are talking all sorts of trash about Regina, the most important thing is that she is happy where she is, and I have not had the energy to address anyone regarding anything.”

Rita also said she preferred to take public criticism rather than let people blame her daughter.

“Do I leave them to heap blame on my daughter?” she asked. “So it is better for me that they heap the blame on me, tear me apart, and call me all sorts of names. I will rather take it. What matters to me is that my family is at peace.” (Tribune)