Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s daughter, Zainab, has approached an Abuja court seeking to end her 20-year marriage to Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Zainab, who is the governor’s second wife, reportedly filed a divorce petition at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, according to court documents.

The court subsequently issued a civil summons, referenced CV/97/26, directing Governor Yusuf to appear before it on November 17, 2026, in connection with the petition.

The development places the marriage between the two prominent Kano political families under public scrutiny, given Zainab’s relationship with Senator Kwankwaso, a former governor and influential political figure in the state.

Zainab married Yusuf on July 29, 2006, when she was serving as an aide to her father.

Their marriage, which has lasted about two decades, produced six children.

In a significant aspect of the petition, Zainab reportedly indicated her willingness to refund the dowry paid in connection with the marriage, signalling her determination to bring the union to an end.

The court proceedings are expected to provide further details about the petition and the circumstances surrounding the proposed dissolution of the marriage.

However, 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.

Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, was not readily available for comments as at the time of filing this report.