The low uptake of maternal healthcare services (MHS) in Nigeria is implicated in the country’s poor maternal health outcomes. In northern Nigeria where these outcomes are poorest, not much is known about the contribution of violence within unions on married women’s uptake of MHS. Using data on antenatal care (ANC) utilisation and place of delivery, and their sociodemographic confounders from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey, this study investigates this relationship. Results of univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses show that 46.4% and 22.1% of the women had at least four ANC sessions and had health facility delivery respectively. At the subregional level however, the North-Central zone had the highest utilisation rates while the North-West zone had the lowest. The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) ranged from 8.2% (sexual violence) to 16.7% (physical violence) and 35.8% (emotional violence). Subregional analysis of IPV shows that the North-West zone had the lowest prevalence rates. Contrary to some literature evidence, women who experienced IPV in the study area had higher odds of utilising MHS (P