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The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) expressed its shock at reports that the United States Congress is contemplating a bill called The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act, 2026 (H.R. 7457). This bill names the party’s national leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the only individual, along with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and a Fulani ethnic militia, to face targeted sanctions such as visa bans and asset freezes.

As the reports indicate, this is because of his alleged culpability for “severe religious freedom violations.”

Ladipo Johnson, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, reacted to the reports by rejecting any implication that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has contributed to violations of religious freedom in any manner.

The party expressed that it was curious and regrettable for Kwankwaso to be mentioned in relation to matters he had no knowledge of.

“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 in the public domain, both in public office and in private life, and it is advisable for people to investigate such matters properly before reaching such conclusions,” the party said.

Johnson mentioned that several months prior to the recent development, Kwankwaso had responded publicly when President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to alleged religious persecution.

Senator Kwankwaso, in a statement shared on his X account at the time, warned against what he called oversimplified portrayals of Nigeria’s internal challenges.

Kwankwaso noted the significance of stressing that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose citizens encounter various threats from criminals nationwide.

Nonetheless, in a post on X, U.S. Congress Rep. Riley Moore addressed 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.”

According to the NNPP, this accusation arose from the implementation of the Islamic legal code in Kano State under Kwankwaso’s leadership, aligning it with other northern states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Yobe, Jigawa, and Borno.

“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?” the statement asked.

“Is Rep. Moore being fair or selective? Isn’t the U.S. in good relations with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both Sharia countries? Why is this coming just after our government apparently paid for a consultant in the U.S.? Isn’t it strange that it is Kwankwaso, an opposition leader who has spoken out repeatedly about insecurity under this administration, that the United States now seems to be turning on?”

The party noted that while serving as governor of Kano State, Senator Kwankwaso effectively eliminated the Boko Haram sect from the state. It further emphasized that his strong connections with Christian leaders both in Kano and nationwide serve as a testament to his reputation as a national leader and statesman.

“Even when he was pressured to introduce Sharia, he still lost his election because predominantly Muslim voters punished him for supporting a Christian presidential candidate, 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 believe should guide the Congress and its leaders, particularly Reps. Riley Moore and Chris Smith, to carry out a thorough investigation into 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 said.

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