Former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said ‘indigenous enemies’ submitted his name to the United States Congress over the proposed bill, which seeks to impose sanctions on him over allegations of severe religious freedom violations.

Naija News recalls that United States lawmakers introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026”, which proposes sanctions against Kwankwaso for alleged religious freedom violations.

If passed, the bill would compel the US Departments of State and Treasury to impose visa bans and asset freezes on Kwankwaso, alongside groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), for their alleged roles in the systemic persecution of Christians.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Monday, Kwankwaso said it was surprising that somebody is blaming him for the Sharia law in Kano.

He said, “My name was submitted by our enemies here in this country to the US Congress.

“I can tell you the irony of the whole thing. When Sharia came from Zamfara in the year 2000, I really wanted to study, and even as a Muslim to understand it.

“Some people were too much in a hurry. They wouldn’t wait, and they believe that I was not keen, and somebody wrote a private bill to the State Assembly. Before you know it, they follow the due process and submitted it for signing.

“We studied it, and we realized that it was very important. And we have not seen anything there that actually should stop us. And in any case, even if I didn’t sign, the implication is, within no time, it will become law if I don’t sign.

“So while people were angry at that time with me that I wasn’t enthusiastic, I didn’t submit the bill and so on and so forth, now, fast forwarded to 2026, somebody is blaming me for Sharia in Kano.”