Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of potentially masterminding the inclusion of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, on a US congressional blacklist.
In an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time program on Friday monitored by Truth Live News, El-Rufai suggested the move stems from Kwankwaso’s refusal to defect to the APC amid rumors of his potential switch to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This allegation comes in the wake of a new US bill, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, which proposes sanctions against Fulani militias and Kwankwaso for alleged human rights abuses. The legislation aims to heighten accountability for religious freedom violations in Nigeria.
El-Rufai dismissed Kwankwaso’s portrayal as a religious fundamentalist, pointing out inconsistencies in the bill’s targets. “The APC may be behind it because Kwankwaso has refused to move to the APC, and there are rumours that he will move to the ADC,” he said.
He added, “In fact, I cannot think of anyone else because, look, 12 northern states implemented Sharia. The first state to do so was Zamfara. I thought Zamfara should be listed there if at all anyone is to be blamed for this Sharia fiasco. So Kwankwaso is not one of the governors that you would say was a fundamentalist.”
The bill’s introduction has sparked debate on political motivations behind international sanctions, with El-Rufai’s comments highlighting potential domestic rivalries influencing global perceptions of Nigerian figures.
