A proposed United States legislation seeking to sanction alleged violators of religious freedom in Nigeria has triggered debate following the inclusion of former Kano State governor and presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The bill, titled Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives by Republican lawmakers. It proposes visa restrictions and possible asset freezes against individuals accused of enabling or tolerating religious persecution in Nigeria. Kwankwaso’s name features prominently among those referenced, a move that has drawn scrutiny from analysts and commentators.
In an article analysing the development, Nigerian-American professor and media scholar Farooq Kperogi argued that Kwankwaso’s inclusion is inconsistent with his historical record on religious issues, particularly during his tenure as governor of Kano State.
According to Kperogi, Kwankwaso was initially reluctant to introduce Sharia law in Kano in 2000, resisting sustained pressure from clerics and sections of the public. Contemporary accounts from that period indicate that the Sharia bill was not sponsored by the state government but emerged as a private legislative initiative, placing Kwankwaso in a politically precarious position.
Kperogi recalled that the former governor faced intense public hostility, at times withdrawing from public engagements for security reasons, while his deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, frequently stood in for him and was reportedly attacked on one occasion by angry crowds.
When Sharia was eventually launched, Kwankwaso publicly urged restraint, warning against vigilantism and intimidation of non-Muslims, and emphasising that only the state had the authority to enforce the law. His subsequent implementation of Sharia was widely viewed as cautious, a stance that reportedly strained his relationship with influential clerics and contributed to his loss in the 2003 governorship election.
Despite this history, US Congressman Riley Moore accused Kwankwaso of complicity in the killing of Christians, citing Kano’s Sharia legislation. The accusation followed Kwankwaso’s public criticism of the US government’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom violations.
Kwankwaso had argued that the designation oversimplified Nigeria’s complex security challenges and risked worsening interreligious tensions, advocating cooperation rather than confrontation. Moore responded sharply on social media, alleging that Kwankwaso signed laws prescribing death for blasphemy, a claim Kperogi described as lacking historical and political context.
Kwankwaso did not respond to the allegation.
Kperogi noted that the bill remains at an early legislative stage and faces significant procedural hurdles before it can become law. He also pointed out that many Nigeria-focused bills introduced in the US Congress fail to advance beyond committee stages.
Beyond Washington, Kperogi suggested the controversy could have political implications in Nigeria. He argued that being singled out by US lawmakers may inadvertently strengthen Kwankwaso’s political profile among northern Muslim constituencies, potentially positioning him as a symbolic figure of resistance to perceived external pressure.
The development continues to generate reactions in political and diplomatic circles as debates persist over the intersection of international advocacy, domestic politics, and religious freedom in Nigeria.
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