Atiku-Abubakar.webp
The Digest:

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has hired Von Batten-Montague-York, a Washington-based lobbying firm, for $1.2 million to protect and strengthen his "reputational standing" in the United States. According to a document filed with the US Department of Justice, the firm will "counterbalance" the Nigerian government's "lobbying narratives" and arrange meetings with US officials. The 12-month contract was signed on March 9 and 10, 2026. The firm recently engaged with President Donald Trump over INEC's handling of ADC's leadership crisis.

Key Points:
  • Atiku is building international influence ahead of the 2027 election.
  • The move signals a strategic effort to counter the Tinubu administration in Washington.
  • The $1.2m contract raises questions about campaign financing sources.
  • The lobbying firm has Republican ties, potentially aligning with Trump's administration.
  • This follows the FG's own $9m lobbying contract to protect its image in the US.
Watch for further engagements between Atiku's lobbyists and US officials, and how the Tinubu government responds to this counter-lobbying effort.

Sources: The Cable, Vanguard