Yusuf vs Kwankwaso: Governor’s wife seeks divorce, offers to refund Nikkah dowry

Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the second wife of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has approached an Abuja court to dissolve their 20-year marriage, offering to refund the dowry paid by the governor.

Zainab, daughter of former Kano State Governor and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, filed for divorce through the Islamic procedure of khul’i at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja.

Court documents obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN showed that a civil summons with reference number CV/97/26 ordered Yusuf to appear before the court on November 17, 2026.

The couple married on July 29, 2006, while Zainab was serving as an aide to her father. Their marriage produced six children.

In her particulars of claim, Zainab cited a breakdown of the marriage, alleging a persistent lack of reciprocal care, love, affection and emotional connection.

She told the court that she had also lost her love and affection for the governor and developed a deep-seated aversion to the marriage.

She further expressed concern that remaining in the marriage would make it difficult for her to observe the limits prescribed by Allah regarding a wife’s obligations.

According to the court documents, Zainab said efforts to reconcile the couple and restore harmony had failed, adding that the governor’s heart had completely turned away from the union.

She consequently offered to refund the dowry paid by Yusuf on their wedding day to secure the dissolution of the marriage.

Khul’i is an Islamic procedure through which a wife can seek separation from her husband, usually in exchange for compensation or the return of her dowry.

The divorce move comes amid reports of a prolonged marital crisis, which sources linked to the political fallout between Yusuf and his former political godfather and father-in-law, Kwankwaso.

The governor and the former senator reportedly fell out about a year ago.

DAILY NIGERIAN reported that Zainab left the Kano Government House for her father’s residence on Miller Road, Kano, on October 28, before travelling to Abuja without her police orderly and other security escorts.

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Her police orderly reportedly raised the alarm after suspecting that something was amiss, prompting security officials at the Government House to inform the governor.

Sources said airport security officials were initially instructed not to allow her to board her flight but later permitted her to travel to avoid a possible confrontation at the airport.

Security operatives assigned to her quarters at the Government House and personnel attached to Kwankwaso’s residence were reportedly arrested, questioned and later released by the Kano State Police Command.

Zainab’s elder sister and elder brother, Ado Kwankwaso, were also reportedly invited by the police over allegations that they assisted her in leaving Kano.

Sources further alleged that pressure was being mounted on the police to charge Ado with kidnapping.