By Ezekiel Marshal

Buba Galadima, a prominent chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has alleged that the Kano State Government has formally petitioned the Federal Government to prevent the party’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from entering the state.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Thursday, Galadima claimed that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf wrote to federal authorities seeking to restrict Kwankwaso’s movements.

He questioned the legality of such a move, asking if the government intended to suppress the former governor as seen in past political eras.

“Unless there are no judges in the country, we will challenge anybody,” Galadima asserted, further questioning if the escalation posed a threat to Kwankwaso’s life.

This allegation follows a series of dramatic shifts in Kano’s political landscape. In late January 2026, Governor Yusuf reportedly resigned from the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement, signaling a major fallout with his former mentor.

Kwankwaso has previously accused the state government of coercing local officials to defect to the APC, a claim the state government has consistently denied, insisting that any defections are voluntary.

The domestic friction is unfolding alongside significant international pressure.

Galadima’s remarks were partly a reaction to a newly introduced bill in the United States Congress titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.”

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Republican lawmakers, seeks to impose a visa ban and asset freeze on Kwankwaso and groups like Miyetti Allah over allegations of systemic religious persecution in Nigeria.

Galadima dismissed these international allegations as unfounded and politically motivated.

He argued that the U.S. move was part of a coordinated effort by the APC-led Federal Government to intimidate Kwankwaso into joining the ruling party.

Despite the dual pressure from local and international fronts, Galadima maintained that Kwankwaso remains resolute and will challenge any attempts to curtail his freedom of movement through the Nigerian judicial system.