The Kwankwasiyya Movement has rejected the proposed Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026 (HR 7457) in the United States Congress, citing the leader of the movement and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for a possible visa ban and freezing of assets.
Reacting to the US Bill introduced by Congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith, the Kwankwasiyya movement insisted that the allegations against its leader were unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with Kwankwaso’s verifiable public record.
A statement signed by the spokesperson of the movement, Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed, dismissed the allegations raised in the proposed sanction, insisting that Kwankwaso’s records stand firmly against violence, extremism, and terrorism.
According to the release, ” We received with grave concern reports that a proposed Bill before the United States Congress, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026 (HR 7457), allegedly references the name of our leader and principal, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in connection with claims of ‘severe religious freedom violations’.
“For over 30 years, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has served Nigeria at the highest levels as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-term Governor of Kano State, Minister of Defence, Senator of the Federal Republic, and Presidential Candidate.
“Throughout this period, he has never been indicted, prosecuted, or credibly accused of religious persecution, extremism, or human rights violations.
“The constitutional development of Sharia-based legal systems in certain northern Nigerian states was neither unique to Kano State nor the initiative of one individual.
“Multiple states adopted similar legal frameworks within the ambit of Nigeria’s federal constitution, legislative processes, and judicial safeguards. These systems remain subject to constitutional oversight and appellate review”.
Mohammed said further, “To single out Senator Kwankwaso while similar constitutional arrangements exist across several states raises serious questions about the basis, consistency, and evidentiary standard behind such a recommendation.
“International relations are traditionally guided by contextual understanding and respect for constitutional sovereignty. The United States maintains diplomatic and strategic relationships with several sovereign nations whose legal systems incorporate Islamic jurisprudence.
“It would therefore be inconsistent to treat Nigeria’s constitutionally grounded legal pluralism differently without clear and individualised evidence of wrongdoing”.
Dr. Mohammed said, “During his tenure as Governor of Kano State, decisive measures were taken to curtail extremist threats and protect lives and property across religious divides. He maintained constructive engagement with Christian leaders and minority communities and consistently promoted peaceful coexistence.
“His 2023 presidential ticket, which paired him with Bishop Isaac Idahosa, reflected his enduring belief in religious inclusion and national balance. It is, therefore, deeply concerning that an opposition political leader with a longstanding national profile, who has consistently spoken on issues of governance and security, would be isolated in a matter of such gravity without transparent and verifiable findings”.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement respectfully called on the US Congress to outrightly reject this recommendation and remove Dr Kwankwaso’s name from the proposed bill.
They said the inclusion of Senator Kwankwaso’s name was influenced by certain individuals on a mission to settle personal scores with him, by political rivals, or by both, and that the Congress should not allow its respected chamber to be used for this.
The movement believed that legations of this magnitude must be grounded in demonstrable facts, not generalised assumptions. It insisted that Kwankwaso remains a nationalist, a democrat, and a statesman whose public service has been anchored on justice, unity, and inclusive governance.
