THE New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) has condemned a proposed bill in the United States seeking to impose sanctions, including a visa ban and asset freeze, on its national leader and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The party’s Campaign Secretary, Folashade Aliu, described the move as unfair and malicious, arguing that singling out one individual in a country with a population exceeding 260 million raises questions about the intent behind the legislation.
Speaking to newsmen, Aliu questioned the rationale for targeting a single person in a matter concerning religion and terrorism.
She maintained that there is no evidence linking Kwankwaso to any extremist organisation and insisted that any credible proof should be made public.
The proposed legislation, titled the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’, was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by lawmakers including Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
If passed into law, the bill would require the U.S. Secretary of State to present a comprehensive report on efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
It also recommends sanctions against individuals or groups deemed responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.
Those listed in the bill include Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and entities described as Fulani-ethnic nomad militias.
According to reports, the sponsors of the bill referenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom issues, urging the use of diplomatic and economic measures to press the Nigerian government to address alleged abuses.
Meanwhile, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has also rejected the proposed sanctions, describing the inclusion of its leader’s name as politically motivated and lacking factual basis.
In a statement by spokesperson Habibu Sale Mohammed, the group dismissed claims linking Kwankwaso’s tenure as governor to religious extremism, noting that the adoption of Sharia-based legal systems in parts of Northern Nigeria was a constitutional development not unique to Kano State.
The movement called for the immediate removal of Kwankwaso’s name from the proposed legislation, arguing that targeting him alone, while similar legal frameworks exist in other states, raises concerns about the standards applied in drafting the bill.