By Ayodele Oni & Akinwale Kasali
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, is facing divorce threat from one of his wives.
His second wife, Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, has filed for divorce at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja.
According to court documents obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, a civil summon, with reference number CV/97/26, ordered the governor to appear before the court on November 17.
Zainab, who is a daughter of a former governor of Kano and 2027 NDC Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, married Mr Yusuf on July 29, 2006, while serving her father as aide.
The marriage produced six children.
The filing comes amid a prolonged political rupture between Governor Yusuf and his former mentor and father-in-law.
Yusuf, who was elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with Kwankwaso’s backing, later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The fallout, which began roughly a year ago, is said by sources to have strained the marriage as well.
On 28 October, Zainab reportedly left the Kano Government House for her father’s residence on Miller Road, Kano, before travelling to Abuja by air without her police orderly or other security detail.
Upon noticing her absence, her Orderly reportedly alerted superiors at the Government House, who briefed the Governor.
It was gathered that Airport Security Operatives were initially instructed to prevent her from boarding the Abuja-bound flight, but they were ultimately stood down to avoid a public scene at the terminal.
Following her departure, the Kano State Police Command reportedly arrested and interrogated security personnel attached to her quarters at the Government House, as well as operatives stationed at Senator Kwankwaso’s Miller Road residence, before releasing them.
Additionally, Zainab’s elder sister and her elder brother, Ado Kwankwaso, were summoned by the Police over allegations that they facilitated her departure from Kano.
Sources further alleged that external pressure is being mounted on Police authorities to file kidnapping charges against Ado.
In her particulars of claim before the Abuja court, Zainab stated that the marriage had suffered an irretrievable breakdown marked by a persistent lack of reciprocal care, love, affection, and emotional connection.
She submitted that she had lost all affection for the Governor and developed a deep-seated aversion to the union, expressing concern that remaining in the marriage would hinder her ability to uphold the religious obligations expected of a Wife under Islamic law.
Noting that all reconciliation efforts had proved abortive and asserting that the Governor’s heart had completely turned away from the marriage, Zainab formally offered to refund the Dowry paid on their wedding day.
She is seeking the dissolution of the marriage through khul’i—an Islamic legal procedure that permits a Wife to initiate a divorce by returning her dowry or offering compensation to her husband.
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