“Loss Of Love And Affection” — Zainab Kwankwaso Files For Divorce From Governor Yusuf Amid Political Rift With Father

Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the second wife of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and daughter of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has approached an Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, seeking the dissolution of her 20-year-old marriage to the governor under Islamic law.

The court has summoned Governor Yusuf to appear before it on November 17, 2026, in connection with the divorce suit, marked CV/97/26.

According to court documents obtained by Daily Nigerian, Zainab is seeking to terminate the marriage through Khul’i, an Islamic legal procedure under which a woman may seek dissolution of her marriage, usually in exchange for compensation or the return of her dowry.

Zainab and Yusuf married on July 29, 2006, when the governor was serving as an aide to her father. Their union produced six children.

In her particulars of claim, Zainab attributed her decision to the breakdown of their marital relationship, alleging a prolonged absence of mutual care, affection and emotional attachment.

She told the court that she no longer had affection for the governor and had developed a strong aversion to continuing the marriage.

The governor’s wife further expressed concern that remaining in the union could prevent her from fulfilling her marital obligations in accordance with Islamic teachings.

She maintained that attempts to reconcile the couple had been unsuccessful and expressed her willingness to return the dowry paid by Yusuf at the time of their marriage.

The divorce proceedings come against the backdrop of a political disagreement between Governor Yusuf and his former political mentor and father-in-law, Senator Kwankwaso.

Yusuf was elected governor in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with Kwankwaso’s support but subsequently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although sources have linked the political disagreement to tensions within the marriage, the reported particulars of claim centre on the breakdown of the marital relationship.

Zainab reportedly departed the Kano Government House on October 28, 2026, visiting her father’s residence before travelling to Abuja without her assigned security escorts.

Daily Nigerian further reported that her departure prompted inquiries involving security personnel attached to the Government House and Kwankwaso’s residence.

The newspaper said some security personnel were questioned and subsequently released, while members of Zainab’s family were also invited by the police over their alleged involvement in facilitating her departure.

The circumstances surrounding the reported police intervention have not been independently verified.

The Kano State Commissioner for Information, Sanusi Dawakin Tofa, had not responded to requests for the governor’s reaction to the divorce proceedings at the time of the original report.

The court has yet to determine Zainab’s application for dissolution of the marriage.

The matter is scheduled to come before the Upper Area Court in Gudu, Abuja, on November 17, 2026.

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