Kano State Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has appealed to the United States Congress to remove the name of former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from a proposed religious freedom bill recommending sanctions over alleged persecution.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Press Secretary, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, Gwarzo described the allegations linking Kwankwaso to religious persecution as baseless and misleading.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, is sponsored by U.S. Representatives Riley Moore and Chris Smith. The bill reportedly recommends sanctions against Fulani militias and includes Kwankwaso among individuals cited in connection with alleged religious persecution.
Responding to the development, the deputy governor said the claims contradict Kwankwaso’s public record and decades of service in various leadership roles. He noted that Kwankwaso has served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-term Governor of Kano State, Minister of Defence, Senator, and most recently, a presidential candidate.
Gwarzo maintained that Kwankwaso has never been indicted, prosecuted, or credibly accused of religious persecution, extremism, or human rights abuses.
He challenged those behind the allegations to focus on identifying the actual perpetrators of religious violence instead of, in his words, maligning a democratic leader who has consistently spoken against extremism and terrorism.
The statement added that during his time in office, Kwankwaso fostered relationships with Christian leaders and minority groups and promoted peaceful coexistence. It also referenced his choice of Bishop Isaac Idahosa as his 2023 presidential running mate as evidence of his commitment to religious inclusion.
Gwarzo urged U.S. lawmakers to reject the recommendation and remove Kwankwaso’s name from the bill, suggesting that political opponents or aggrieved individuals may have influenced its inclusion. He described the former governor as a nationalist and statesman committed to justice, unity, and inclusive governance.
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