Religious freedom violations: APC, NNPP back Kwankwaso as US sanctions tension rises
The bill, titled, ‘The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,’ was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Rep Chris Smith alongside Reps Riley Moore, Brian Mast and Bill Huizenga.
The bill recommends visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against individuals and entities accused of involvement in religious freedom abuses.
The APC criticised the proposed sanctions, insisting that the allegations alone could not justify curtailing Kwankwaso’s freedom of movement without a fair hearing and due process.
Speaking on Wednesday, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described the United States as a symbol of democracy and cautioned its government against taking action solely based on allegations.
He stated, “I think they (the United States of America) cannot just act on allegations. America is the beacon of democracy. America is the beacon of freedom, and it ought to be seen to be behaving in that manner.
“Now, whatever the allegation against former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and others is, it remains an allegation until it is proven.
“They cannot, on the strength of an allegation alone, go ahead to suggest a ban or restriction on the freedom of movement of an individual without substantiating it, without subjecting him to a fair hearing and trial.
“So I think that is a wrong move. It infringes on his right to a fair hearing, and I don’t support that.”
The NNPP, on the other hand, described the planned censure of its national leader as blackmail.
At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the opposition party expressed shock over the inclusion of Kwankwaso in the proposed sanctions list, while dismissing any suggestions that he was responsible for religious freedoms violations.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ladipo Johnson, stated, “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.”
Johnson noted that months before the latest development, Kwankwaso had reacted to the decision by US President Donald Trump to re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged persecution of Christians.
He said, “The months before the latest development, Kwankwaso had openly reacted when President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious persecution.
“In a statement posted on his X handle at the time, 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.”
However, in a post shared on X, US lawmaker Riley Moore had written to Kwankwaso saying, “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 leadership, implemented the Islamic legal code, joining other northern states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Yobe, Jigawa and Borno.
Questioning the allegation, the NNPP asked, “But is this enough to accuse Kwankwaso of severe religious freedoms 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, stating, “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, 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 cleared of such undue embarrassment,” Johnson added.
The US Congress, in the bill, issued one of its strongest condemnations yet of religious persecution in the country, declaring that Nigeria accounts for 82 per cent of all Christians martyred globally and warning that the scale, coordination and impunity surrounding the violence now threaten regional stability and US foreign policy interests.
The bill calls for targeted sanctions on individuals and networks responsible for severe violations, and urges their designation as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.
The legislation specifically directs the Secretary of State to determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias qualify as Foreign Terrorist Organisations under section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
If such a designation is made, it would carry far-reaching consequences, including criminalising material support, expanding US law enforcement reach, and intensifying international pressure on any state or entity found to be aiding the groups.
He said that the US is biased in its assessment of issues in Nigeria and asked Congress to send a delegation to Nigeria and visit some of the troubled communities before passing the bill into law.
Galma said, “We are not terrorists or bandits. Let me emphasise this: We are also victims of Boko Haram in Nigeria because we have lost members and cattle.
“Maybe, some people do not know that we have Christians as members of MACBAN in parts of Adamawa, Plateau and Bauchi. These people are non-Fulanis.
“We are not terrorists or bandits, it’s true that in every association, there are bad eggs, and this is not limited to MACBAN.’’
Galma advised the US Congress to respect the fundamental rights of every nation, individual and association as embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, urging the Congress to dispatch a delegation to Nigeria.
“The US should respect the fundamental human rights, or else it amounts to a breach of international standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.’’
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