Zainab Kwankwaso Cites Lack of Love, Affection in Divorce Suit Against Abba Yusuf

The second wife of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, has filed for divorce at an Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, offering to refund the dowry paid by the governor during their marriage.

Zainab, a daughter of former Kano State Governor and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is seeking to dissolve the marriage through Khul’i, an Islamic legal procedure that allows a woman to initiate divorce, usually by returning the dowry or offering compensation to her husband.

According to court documents, the court has issued a civil summons directing Governor Yusuf to appear on November 17, 2026, to respond to the divorce suit, which reportedly carries reference number CV/97/26.

In her court filing, Zainab reportedly cited a breakdown of the marriage, alleging a prolonged absence of love, care, affection and emotional connection between the couple.

She also told the court that attempts to reconcile their differences had failed, adding that she had lost affection for the governor and was no longer willing to continue the marriage.

Zainab further expressed concern that remaining in the union could make it difficult for her to fulfil the obligations expected of a wife under Islamic law. She consequently indicated her willingness to refund the dowry paid by Yusuf on their wedding day as part of her request for the dissolution of the marriage.

The couple got married on July 29, 2006, and their union produced six children.

The divorce proceedings come amid reports of a strained relationship between Governor Yusuf and his former political mentor and father-in-law, Senator Kwankwaso.

Yusuf, who became governor in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with Kwankwaso’s backing, later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering a political fallout between the two men.

Reports also indicated that Zainab left the Kano Government House for her father’s residence in Kano on October 28 before travelling to Abuja.

However, the court documents cited in the reports do not establish that the political disagreement between the governor and Kwankwaso was the reason for her decision to seek divorce.

The Kano State Government had not publicly provided a response to the divorce proceedings in the reports available as of Saturday.

The court is expected to hear the matter following the summons issued to the governor for November 17.