Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the second wife of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reportedly filed for divorce at an Upper Area Court in Abuja, offering to return the dowry paid during their marriage.
The daughter of former Kano State Governor and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso instituted a civil suit marked CV/97/26 at the Upper Area Court, Gudu, Abuja.
The court has reportedly summoned Governor Yusuf to appear on November 17, 2026, in connection with the divorce proceedings.
Zainab and Yusuf got married on July 29, 2006, when she was serving as an aide to her father. Their union produced six children.
The development comes against the backdrop of an ongoing political disagreement between Governor Yusuf and his former political godfather and father-in-law, Kwankwaso.
Yusuf secured his election as governor under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, largely benefiting from Kwankwaso’s political influence. However, tensions reportedly emerged after Yusuf later defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Reports indicate that the political disagreement between Kwankwaso and the governor, which began about a year ago, has also contributed to growing tensions within the marriage.
Further reports revealed that Zainab moved out of the Kano Government House on October 28 and relocated to her father's residence along Miller Road in Kano.
She subsequently travelled to Abuja by air without her police orderly or other security operatives.
The reported divorce filing marks another development in the strained relationship between the governor and his father-in-law, whose political differences have attracted considerable attention.
2027: Zainab, Kwankwaso's daughter files for divorce against Gov Yusuf, offers to return dowry