A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has expressed surprise over the inclusion of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s name in a proposed sanctions list put forward by some United States lawmakers.

In a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Ahmad said he found it difficult to understand why the former Kano State governor and ex-Minister of Defence was being linked to terrorism or religious intolerance.

“I am not holding a brief for Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, but I genuinely wonder how his name appeared there,” Ahmad wrote.

Naija News reports that Ahmad, who served as Special Assistant on Digital Communications to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, said Kwankwaso has always maintained a firm stance against terrorism.

“All the time I have known him and throughout his service as Governor, Minister of Defence, Senator and now as a political leader, he has consistently taken a firm stance against terrorism and terrorists in all forms,” he said.

His comment follows reports that some members of the United States Congress, including Riley Moore and Chris Smith, have introduced a bill titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.

The draft legislation reportedly recommends targeted sanctions, including visa restrictions and asset freezes, against Kwankwaso and certain Fulani herder groups accused of involvement in religiously motivated violence.