Kwankwaso
Kwankwasiyya Movement rejects US bill targeting Kwankwaso Over religious freedom allegations
The Kwankwasiyya Movement has formally rejected a move by five United States lawmakers to blacklist its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over alleged “severe religious freedom violations” in Nigeria.
The action follows the introduction of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026 (HR 7457) to the US Congress on Tuesday. The proposed legislation seeks to compel the US Departments of State and Treasury to impose visa bans and asset freezes on Kwankwaso and groups such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association over their alleged roles in the systemic persecution of Christians.
In a swift reaction on Thursday, the movement described the former Kano State Governor’s inclusion in the bill as “unfounded” and “politically motivated,” demanding his immediate removal.
“We state unequivocally that these allegations are consistent with nothing in the verifiable public record of Senator Kwankwaso’s life and service,” said spokesperson Habibu Sale Mohammed.
The movement specifically addressed claims by US Rep. Riley Moore, a bill sponsor, who reportedly linked Kwankwaso to religious extremism over the implementation of Sharia law during his gubernatorial tenure.
The group defended the record, arguing that Sharia-based legal systems in Northern Nigeria were constitutional developments not unique to Kano.
“The constitutional development of Sharia-based legal systems… was neither unique to Kano State nor the initiative of one individual,” the statement read. “To single out Senator Kwankwaso while similar constitutional arrangements exist in several states raises serious questions about the evidentiary standard behind such a recommendation.”
Kwankwaso—a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-term Kano governor, Minister of Defence, and Senator—has “never been indicted, prosecuted, or credibly accused of religious persecution, extremism, or human rights violations,” the group said.
The movement added that Sharia-based legal systems in parts of northern Nigeria remain subject to constitutional oversight and appellate review.
The group also pointed to Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with the United States and other nations with diverse legal systems, arguing that constitutional sovereignty and contextual understanding should guide international engagement.
“The United States maintains diplomatic and strategic relationships with several sovereign nations whose legal systems incorporate Islamic jurisprudence,” the statement noted. “It would therefore be inconsistent to treat Nigeria’s constitutionally grounded legal pluralism differently without clear and individualized evidence of wrongdoing.”
Defending Kwankwaso’s record, the movement said that during his tenure as governor, he took “decisive measures” to curb extremist threats and protect lives across religious divides.
It also cited his 2023 presidential ticket with Bishop Isaac Idahosa as evidence of his “enduring belief in religious inclusion and national balance.”
The movement called on the US Congress to “outrightly reject this recommendation and remove Dr Kwankwaso’s name from the proposed bill,” alleging that the development may have been influenced by “individuals on a mission to settle personal scores or political rivals.”
“Allegations of this magnitude must be grounded in demonstrable facts, not generalized assumptions,” the statement said.
Reaffirming its support for the former governor, the Kwankwasiyya Movement described Kwankwaso as “a nationalist, a democrat, and a statesman whose public service has been anchored on justice, unity, and inclusive governance,” expressing confidence that “fairness, due diligence, and objective assessment will ultimately prevail.”
The bill was introduced by Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
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