NNPP rejects proposed U.S sanctions on Kwankwaso
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has faulted a move in the United States Congress seeking sanctions against its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over alleged violations of religious freedom.
In a reaction on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, described the allegation as unfair and said Kwankwaso had no connection with religious extremism.
Johnson said the former Kano governor’s public record shows a history of engagement with leaders across faiths, adding that he once supported a Christian presidential candidate and in 2023 ran with Bishop Isaac Idahosa as his running mate.
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The NNPP questioned why Kwankwaso was being singled out when other northern states also implemented Sharia law, urging US lawmakers to conduct what it called a thorough and balanced investigation.
What the Controversy Is About
Some members of the US Congress are reportedly backing a proposal that may impose punitive measures — including visa restrictions and asset freezes — on certain Nigerian figures accused of severe religious freedom violations. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the NNPP and former governor of Kano State, was named among those mentioned.
The concern from the US side is linked partly to the expansion of Sharia legal systems in parts of northern Nigeria during the early 2000s, including Kano under Kwankwaso’s administration.
However, the NNPP argues that:
multiple states adopted similar legal frameworks,
Kwankwaso has maintained relationships with Christian leaders,
and his political history, including running with a Christian cleric in 2023, contradicts claims of intolerance.
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The party is therefore calling for what it describes as an objective review before any action is taken.
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