El-Rufai Links Kwankwaso's Blacklisting to APC Defection

In a recent interview on Arise Television, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai suggested that the U.S. Congress's decision to blacklist Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), is linked to Kwankwaso's refusal to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The U.S. Congress is currently deliberating on a new bill aimed at increasing accountability for human rights abuses in Nigeria, which includes provisions for potential sanctions against Fulani militia.

This legislative initiative is part of the broader context of U.S. efforts to address human rights violations and religious freedom issues in Nigeria. El-Rufai's remarks come amid rumors of Kwankwaso's potential defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), highlighting the political tensions within Nigeria's party landscape as the country approaches the 2023 presidential elections.