2027: Atiku’s US Firm Takes Tinubu’s Alleged Rigging Plot To Trump

A United States lobbying firm linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken allegations of an attempt to manipulate Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election to the administration of President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress.

The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., disclosed that it had begun engaging senior officials in the Trump administration over what it described as President Bola Tinubu’s alleged plan to use the Nigerian judiciary to influence the outcome of the next presidential election.

The lobbying firm made the disclosure in a statement published on its official X account, where it raised concerns about the state of Nigeria’s judiciary and the possible implications of recent political developments for the 2027 general election.

It accused the Nigerian government of allegedly exerting political pressure on the judiciary and expressed concern that court decisions could be used to undermine opposition parties ahead of the next presidential contest.

The firm said its engagement would involve senior members of the US administration and lawmakers in Congress.

It also indicated that the matter would receive attention as American lawmakers return to Washington, DC, following the midterm elections.

In its statement, the firm said the alleged attempt to influence Nigeria’s electoral process through the judiciary required attention from the American government.

“We are engaging with senior members of the Donald Trump Administration and Congress about Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s latest blatant attempt to use the Nigerian judiciary to rig the upcoming Nigerian presidential election,” the firm said.

The lobbying organisation further claimed that the US Department of State had documented concerns about corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary and alleged political interference by government officials in judicial proceedings.

It argued that the issues raised could have implications beyond Nigeria, particularly for democratic governance and political stability in West Africa.

The firm also warned that any failure by the current US Congress and the State Department to address what it described as an attempt to manipulate the 2027 election could affect the credibility of American institutions.

It stated that members of the 119th Congress had a responsibility to pay attention to developments in Nigeria, particularly as the country prepares for another presidential election.

The lobbying firm’s intervention followed a recent Federal High Court judgment concerning the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The judgment reportedly nullified the leadership structure headed by former Senate President David Mark, a development that has raised fresh questions about the party’s leadership and its preparations for the 2027 general election.

The ruling also affected the political position of Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential flag bearer of the opposition party.

The development has added another dimension to the leadership dispute within the ADC, particularly as opposition politicians continue to explore possible platforms and alliances for challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

However, the court judgment has created uncertainty around the party’s leadership and the future of its political activities.

Von Batten-Montague-York described the timing of the judgment as suspicious.

The firm alleged that officials of the Tinubu administration held a meeting on Wednesday night following a major political rally organised by Atiku in Sokoto State.

According to the lobbying organisation, the court ruling came shortly after the alleged meeting, raising questions about whether political considerations influenced the judicial outcome.

However, the allegation remains the position of the lobbying firm and has not, by itself, established that the Federal Government influenced the court’s decision.

The statement also linked the Nigerian political situation to ongoing discussions in the United States concerning the country’s mining sector.

It claimed that Democratic members of Congress were preparing to investigate Tinubu’s mining Memorandum of Understanding, suggesting that the issues surrounding Nigeria’s political institutions and economic agreements could attract further scrutiny in Washington.

The firm expressed concern that the alleged interference in Nigeria’s democratic process could increase political tensions as the country approaches the 2027 general election.

It warned that a situation in which opposition parties believe they are being prevented from participating freely in the electoral process could create conditions for political unrest.

The lobbying organisation further argued that instability in Nigeria could have consequences for American interests and security across the West African region.