NNPP, Kwankwassiya Slam US Congress Bill Targeting Kwankwaso for Sanctions as 'Blackmail' and Political Hypocrisy"

 

The Kwankwassiya movement and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have strongly rejected a proposed U.S. congressional bill that recommends targeted sanctions—including visa bans and asset freezes—against Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, their national leader. They describe the move as politically motivated blackmail, contrived, and rooted in international hypocrisy and selective judgment.

The bill in question, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (H.R. 7457), was introduced by Republican lawmakers including Reps. Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga. It calls for U.S. scrutiny of alleged severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria, including the persecution of Christians and mass atrocities. The legislation urges the Departments of State and Treasury to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on entities and individuals deemed responsible, specifically naming:

Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (former Kano State Governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate)

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN)

Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore

The bill also proposes designating Fulani militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and requires reporting on U.S. efforts to address these issues, including whether American aid contributes to religious persecution.

In response, the NNPP held a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, where National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson dismissed the allegations against Kwankwaso as baseless. The party expressed shock at his inclusion, insisting he has "no relationship with religious fundamentalism" and describing the proposal as a "contrived action against an innocent man." They alleged blackmail and called for thorough investigation before any legislation, rejecting any link to religious freedom violations.

The Kwankwassiya movement echoed this stance, rejecting the proposed sanctions as unfair and politically driven against an opposition figure. Reports indicate broad condemnation from Nigerian political circles, including support from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in some accounts, framing it as unwarranted interference.

Kwankwaso is currently out of the country, and the bill remains a proposal before Congress—it has not been enacted into law or resulted in actual sanctions.