Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the second wife of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has initiated legal proceedings to end their marriage at an Upper Area Court in Abuja, offering to return the dowry paid by the governor.
Zainab, a daughter of former Kano State Governor and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is seeking the dissolution of the 20-year-old marriage through khul’i, an Islamic legal process that allows a woman to seek divorce, usually by offering the dowry to her husband.
DAILY NIGERIAN reported that the case was instituted at the Upper Area Court in Gudu, Abuja, with a civil summons carrying reference number CV/97/26.
The court has reportedly summoned Governor Yusuf to appear on November 17, 2026, over the matter.
The couple married on July 29, 2006, and have six children together.
Details contained in the court documents indicate that Zainab wants the marriage terminated because of what she described as a loss of love and emotional attachment, alongside a prolonged absence of affection and mutual care.
She reportedly told the court that her feelings towards the governor had changed to the extent that she no longer wished to remain in the relationship.
According to the report, attempts to resolve the differences between the couple had not yielded the desired result, prompting her decision to seek divorce.
She is said to have expressed readiness to return the dowry received during the marriage as part of the process.
DAILY NIGERIAN also reported that Zainab left the Kano Government House for Abuja on October 28 after visiting her father’s residence on Miller Road in Kano.
The publication, quoting sources, claimed that she travelled without her police orderly and other security personnel attached to her.
It further reported that her orderly raised an alarm after discovering her departure, leading to the matter being brought to the attention of the governor.
The report alleged that airport security officials initially received instructions to stop her from boarding her flight but later allowed her to travel to prevent a possible confrontation.
It also claimed that some security operatives attached to the residences of Governor Yusuf and Senator Kwankwaso were arrested, questioned and subsequently released by the state police command.
Zainab’s elder sister and brother, Ado Kwankwaso, were also reportedly invited for questioning over allegations that they helped facilitate her journey to Abuja.
These claims surrounding her departure and the alleged police actions have not been independently confirmed.
The marital development follows the political separation between Governor Yusuf and Senator Kwankwaso, who was instrumental in his emergence as governor.
Relations between the two reportedly deteriorated after Yusuf left the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), under which he won the 2023 governorship election, and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the court claims do not establish any connection between the political dispute and Zainab’s decision to seek divorce.