A chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Abubakar Yesufu, has suggested possible reasons why the United States Congress may have blacklisted the party’s former presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, Yesufu said the move by American lawmakers could be an attempt to check Kwankwaso’s influence, given his significant support base.
Reports indicate that U.S. lawmakers recently introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, a bill aimed at increasing accountability for human rights abuses in Nigeria. The legislation includes potential sanctions targeting Fulani militias and Kwankwaso.
“Yesufu said, “It did not come as a surprise to me. I anticipated it after Kwankwaso challenged those lawmakers on the propriety of their investigation into our country and urged America to respect Nigeria’s discretion in building a truly free society.
“He added that Kwankwaso’s contributions, especially in voter registration, have been widely recognized, noting that even the All Progressives Congress (APC) acknowledged his role in registering 10 million voters nationwide, including eight million in Kano alone.
“Yesufu said the NNPP has launched a petition and expressed confidence that the U.S. Congress would consider Kwankwaso’s background and track record before taking further action.
