The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dismissed allegations linking its national leader and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to any extremist organisation, insisting there is no credible evidence to support such claims.
The party’s Campaign Secretary, Folashade Aliu, stated this while reacting to a proposed United States bill recommending sanctions, including a visa ban and asset freeze, against Kwankwaso over alleged connections to religious extremism.
Speaking on Channels Television, Aliu said: “There is no evidence that it’s aligned to this group. They have not seen anything,” adding that any proof, if it exists, should be made public.
She questioned the decision to single out one individual in a country of over 260 million people on a sensitive issue such as religion and terrorism, asking: “How can anybody in their right senses put up a bill that is as important as talking about religion and terrorism and single out one individual in this country?”
Aliu further described the move as unfair and politically motivated, arguing: “If you cannot do anything but find an individual, that tells you how malicious this whole arrangement is.”
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, seeks to impose sanctions on individuals and groups accused of severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria. Lawmakers backing the bill said the measure is aimed at addressing religious persecution and strengthening accountability.
In a separate reaction, the Kwankwasiyya Movement also rejected the allegations, describing the inclusion of Kwankwaso’s name as “unfounded” and “politically motivated,” and insisting that the claims are not supported by his public record.
The NNPP maintained that the former presidential candidate has no links to extremist activities and called for any allegations against him to be backed by verifiable evidence.
