APC may be behind Kwankwaso’s alleged U.S. blacklisting, says El-Rufai

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be behind the reported move to blacklist former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, by the United States Congress.

El-Rufai made the claim while speaking during an interview on Prime Time on Arise Television. According to him, Kwankwaso’s alleged troubles could be politically motivated.

The former governor, who is now associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), suggested that Kwankwaso’s refusal to join the APC might have triggered the situation. He implied that internal political dynamics within Nigeria could have played a role in the reported development.

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.