Zainab Kwankwaso Seeks Divorce from Kano Governor

Zainab Kwankwaso, niece of former Kano State governor and vice-presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has gone to court in Abuja to divorce her husband, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.

According to Daily Nigerian, Zainab, who is the governor’s second wife, filed for divorce at the Upper Area Court in Gudu, Abuja. She is asking for the end of their 20-year marriage.

A civil summons with reference number CV/97/26 has ordered Governor Yusuf to appear in court on 17 November.

Zainab married Governor Yusuf in July 2006 when he was working as a personal aide to her uncle, Mr Kwankwaso. They have six children together.

Zainab is the daughter of Dahiru Kwankwaso, who was Mr Kwankwaso’s older brother. Sadly, Dahiru died in an accident in 1985 on the Kano Kaduna expressway.

The Kano State Government has not yet commented on this matter.

But a source familiar with the situation told PREMIUM TIMES that Zainab left her marital home two weeks ago.

This divorce filing comes shortly after a significant political shift in Kano State that has broken one of Northern Nigeria’s most powerful political alliances.

It is still unclear if the divorce is related to the political changes in Kano State. This follows Governor Yusuf’s decision in January to end his long-time relationship with his mentor, Mr Kwankwaso, and join the ruling All Progressives Congress.

For over 20 years, Mr Yusuf was one of Mr Kwankwaso’s closest allies. He played a key role in the Kwankwasiyya political movement.

Governor Yusuf worked as Mr Kwankwaso’s personal assistant and later as Commissioner of Works during Mr Kwankwaso’s second term as governor from 2011 to 2015. He then won the 2023 Kano governorship election.

In January, Governor Yusuf broke away from Mr Kwankwaso and moved from the NNPP to the APC. He said he wanted to align Kano State with the federal government.

This move started a fierce power struggle for control of Kano’s political landscape and state structures.