Terrorism: “APC may be behind Kwankwaso’s blacklisting by US Congress” – El-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) might be behind the possible blacklisting of Rabiu Kwankwaso, an ex-governor of Kano State by the United States of America’s Congress.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Times Show, the African Democratic Congress leader said Kwankwaso’s refusal to join the ruling party could have been the genesis of his recent ordeal.

Recall that the US congressmen led by Riley Moore had initiated a bill aimed at ending the alleged religious intolerance and human rights abuses in Nigeria.

The bill, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, focuses on making sanctions against Kwankwaso, the Fulani Militia and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) among others.

Reacting to the move by the US lawmakers, El-Rufai said, “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.

“In fact, I cannot think of anyone else because, look, 12 northern states implemented Sharia,” El-Rufai said.

Also debunking the allegation that Kwankwaso is a fundamentalist and a religious bigot, the former governor of Kaduna said, “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,” he noted.