{"id":4735,"date":"2026-02-14T20:42:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T20:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/home\/nigeria-kwankwasiyya-urges-removal-of-kwankwaso-name"},"modified":"2026-02-15T00:40:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T00:40:15","slug":"nigeria-kwankwasiyya-urges-removal-of-kwankwaso-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/policy\/nigeria-kwankwasiyya-urges-removal-of-kwankwaso-name","title":{"rendered":"Nigeria: Kwankwasiyya Urges Removal of Kwankwaso Name"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. <\/strong> <\/span>Nigeria\u2019s Kwankwasiyya movement has urged the U.S. Congress to remove the name of its leader, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from a bill that accuses him of violations related to religious freedom.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the movement said the allegations in the proposed \u201cNigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026\u201d are misleading, unfounded, and inconsistent with Kwankwaso\u2019s public record and political career.<\/p>\n

It said its leader has never been convicted or prosecuted on charges of religious persecution, extremism, or human rights abuses, arguing that listing his name in the U.S. bill raises questions about the initiative\u2019s credibility.<\/p>\n

The movement said targeting him over the introduction of a Sharia-based penal code during his tenure in Kano\u2014while similar constitutional arrangements exist in other states\u2014reflects \u201cdouble standards.\u201d<\/p>\n

It added that it is unreasonable to misread Nigeria\u2019s plural legal system while Washington maintains diplomatic and strategic relations with other countries that apply Islamic Sharia.<\/p>\n

The statement noted that Kwankwaso\u2019s 2023 presidential run alongside Bishop Isaac Idahosa demonstrates his \u201cfirm belief in religious pluralism and national balance.\u201d The movement called on the U.S. Congress to reject the recommendation entirely.<\/p>\n

It argued that including Kwankwaso\u2019s name may stem from personal grudges or political competition, stressing that such accusations should be based on proven facts, not broad assumptions.<\/p>\n

The call comes as the U.S. Congress has proposed travel bans and asset freezes targeting Kwankwaso, along with members of the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders\u2019 associations and other Fulani groups, as part of pressure aimed at pushing Nigeria\u2019s government to stop what was described as \u201cpersecution of Christians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kwankwasiyya is regarded as one of the most influential political and social forces in northern Nigeria, particularly in Kano State.<\/p>\n

The movement revolves around Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor and ex-defense minister. It began as a current within the People\u2019s Democratic Party (PDP) before becoming the backbone of the New Nigeria People\u2019s Party (NNPP).<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Africa<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. Nigeria\u2019s Kwankwasiyya movement has urged the U.S. Congress to remove the name of its leader, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from a bill that accuses him of violations related to religious freedom. In a statement, the movement said the allegations in the proposed \u201cNigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026\u201d are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":4733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-4735","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-policy","8":"tag-africa"},"yoast_head":"\nNigeria: Kwankwasiyya Urges Removal of Kwankwaso Name - Africa Press English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press. 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