Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf and his second wife Zainab are about parting ways as spouses after the daughter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso filed for divorce.
An application for the dissolution of the 20-year-old marriage was filed at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, 429 kilometres from their Kano abode.
Khul’i, as the process is called in Islamic jurisprudence, allows a wife to initiate and obtain a divorce, usually in exchange for the return of her dowry.
The marriage is blessed with six children.
According to court summons with reference number CV/97/26, Governor Yusuf is expected to appear before the court on 17th November, 2026.
The couple married on 29th July, 2006, when Zainab was serving as an aide to her father.
In her particulars of claim, Zainab cited a breakdown of the marriage, saying it has been characterised by a persistent lack of reciprocal care, love, affection and emotional connection.
She said she had lost her love and affection for the governor and developed a deep-seated aversion to the marriage. She further expressed fear that continuing in the union would make it difficult for her to observe the limits prescribed by Allah regarding a wife’s obligations.
She consequently offered to refund the dowry paid by Governor Yusuf during their marriage for her to secure the dissolution of the marriage.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no indication in the available court documents of Governor Yusuf’s response to the petition. The state government is yet to react on the development.
Until late last year, the governor was a close ally of Kwankwaso and both belonged to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
He formally resigned from the NNPP in January and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the consternation of the former governor.
Kwankwaso himself dumped the NNPP in March to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) where he spent two months before moving to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).