By Chimezie Godfrey
The Kwankwasiyya Movement has called on the United States Congress to remove the name of its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from a proposed legislation reportedly linking him to allegations of religious freedom violations.
The group, in a press statement dated February 12, 2026, expressed concern over reports that the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026 (HR 7457) allegedly referenced the former Kano State governor.
Habibu Sale Mohammed, spokesperson of the movement, described the development as “deeply concerning” and said the claims were not supported by facts.
“For over thirty years, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has served Nigeria at the highest levels and has never been indicted, prosecuted or credibly accused of religious persecution, extremism or human rights violations,” he said.
The movement explained that the constitutional development of Sharia-based legal systems in parts of northern Nigeria followed legislative processes within the framework of the federal constitution.
“It was neither unique to Kano State nor the initiative of one individual,” Mohammed noted.
He added that Nigeria’s legal pluralism remains subject to constitutional oversight and judicial review, arguing that isolating Kwankwaso without “transparent and verifiable findings” raises questions about fairness.
The statement also highlighted Kwankwaso’s record in promoting peaceful coexistence and religious inclusion, citing his 2023 presidential ticket with Bishop Isaac Idahosa as evidence of his commitment to national balance.
“Senator Kwankwaso’s records stand firmly against violence, extremism and terrorism. During his tenure as governor, decisive measures were taken to curtail extremist threats and protect lives and property across religious divides,” Mohammed stated.
The group urged US lawmakers to reject the recommendation, warning that such allegations must be based on demonstrable evidence.
“We are confident that fairness, due diligence and objective assessment will ultimately prevail,” he added.