Kwankwasiyya rejects US visa sanction move against Kwankwaso, calls allegations false and politically driven.

Kwankwasiyya rejects US visa sanction move against Kwankwaso, calls allegations false and politically driven.

….Pressure mounts as tension grows.

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has strongly rejected a proposed bill in the United States Congress that allegedly mentioned its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over claims of religious freedom violations.

The bill, known as the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026, HR 7457, reportedly listed Kwankwaso among individuals recommended for possible sanctions.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, the spokesperson of the movement, Habibu Sale Mohammed, described the allegations as false and misleading.

He said Kwankwaso has spent more than 30 years serving Nigeria in different top positions, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governor of Kano State for two terms, Minister of Defence, Senator, and presidential candidate.

According to the statement, the former Kano governor has never been charged, prosecuted, or credibly accused of religious persecution or human rights abuse.

The group also explained that the adoption of Sharia-based legal systems in some northern states was not introduced by Kwankwaso alone. It said several states adopted similar systems under Nigeria’s constitution and legal framework.

The movement argued that singling out Kwankwaso while other states operate similar legal structures raises serious concerns about fairness and evidence.

They further stated that the United States maintains relationships with countries that practice Islamic legal systems, and it would be inconsistent to treat Nigeria differently without clear proof of wrongdoing.

The statement added that during Kwankwaso’s time as Kano governor, he took steps to fight extremism and protect people of different religions. It also mentioned that his 2023 presidential ticket, which paired him with Bishop Isaac Idahosa, showed his commitment to religious balance and unity.

The group called on the US Congress to remove Kwankwaso’s name from the proposed bill. It claimed that political rivals or individuals with personal grudges may have influenced the inclusion of his name.

They insisted that such serious allegations must be based on proven facts, not assumptions.

Meanwhile, the New Nigeria Peoples Party had earlier expressed shock over the development, saying the recommendation for sanctions against its national leader was disturbing.