The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Wednesday, expressed shock over a proposed bill before the United States Congress that lists its National Leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, among individuals recommended for targeted sanctions over alleged violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The legislation, titled the 'Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026' (HR 7457), was introduced by Riley Moore (R-West Virginia) and co-sponsored by Chris Smith (R-New Jersey). It proposes visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for individuals and entities accused of involvement in religious freedom abuses.
Those named included Kwankwaso, Fulani-ethnic nomad militias, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
At a press conference in Abuja, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed any claims linking Kwankwaso to religious freedom violations.
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"We see this development as a contrived action against an innocent man who clearly has no relationship with religious fundamentalism in Nigeria. His record is there in the public domain, either in public office or in private life, and it is advisable for people to investigate such things properly, before reaching such conclusions," he said.
Johnson also recalled that months prior, Kwankwaso had responded to US President Donald Trump's decision to redesignate Nigeria as a 'Country of Particular Concern' over alleged religious persecution.
"The months before the latest development, Kwankwaso had openly reacted when President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious persecution. In a statement posted on his X handle at the time, Senator Kwankwaso cautioned against what he described as oversimplified characterisations of Nigeria's internal challenges.
"Kwankwaso stated that it was important to emphasise that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country," he stated.
However, Moore had earlier tweeted to Kwankwaso, "Governor do you care to comment on your own complicity in the death of Christians? You instituted sharia law. You signed the law that makes so-called blasphemy punishable by death."
Kano State, under Kwankwaso's administration, implemented the Islamic legal code, joining other northern states, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Yobe, Jigawa, and Borno.
Questioning the targeting of Kwankwaso, the NNPP asked, "But is this enough to accuse Kwankwaso of severe religious freedom violations? Why were the other state governors who introduced Sharia in their states not accused as well? Is Rep Moore being fair or selective? Isn't the US in a good relationship with Qatar and Saudi Arabia (both Sharia Countries)? Why is this coming just after our government apparently paid for a consultant in the US? Isn't it strange that it is Kwankwaso, an opposition leader who has spoken out so many times about the insecurity under this administration, that the United States now seems to be turning on?"
The party also defended Kwankwaso's record as governor.
"We recall that as governor of Kano State, Senator Kwankwaso ensured that the Boko Haram sect was wiped out of the state, and his close relationships with Christian leaders in Kano and across the country attest to his credibility as a national leader and statesman. Even when he was pressured to introduce Sharia, he still lost his election because the predominantly Muslim voters punished him for supporting a Christian Presidential Candidate, in the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Furthermore, in 2023 he ran his presidential campaign with a Christian Bishop, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, as his running mate. These are the facts, which we think, should guide the Congress and its leaders, particularly Reps Riley Moore and Chris Smith, to do a thorough investigation on the credibility of our leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, so that Justice is done to his noble name and he is cleared of such undue embarrassment," Johnson added.
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The bill also directs the US Secretary of State to determine whether certain Fulani militias qualify as foreign terrorist organisations under US law and recommends humanitarian assistance for communities affected by violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt.
However, the proposed legislation was yet to be considered by the full US Congress.
