Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has entered right into a $1.2 million Treaty with a United States-based lobbying agency as a part of efforts to strengthen his picture overseas and reply to narratives linked to the Nigerian authorities.
Paperwork filed with the U.S. Division of Justice present that Atiku engaged Washington-based agency, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., underneath a proper Treaty signed in early March 2026.
The contract was executed by the agency’s managing accomplice, Karl Von Batten, alongside Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji, who acted on behalf of the previous vice-president.
The filings point out that the engagement is designed to enhance Atiku’s standing inside U.S. political and coverage circles. It additionally goals to current his management concepts to key stakeholders whereas pushing again in opposition to what his camp considers unfavourable narratives promoted by the Nigerian authorities.
A part of the Treaty states that the agency will assist to “counterbalance” the Nigerian authorities’s “lobbying narratives” in Washington. It’ll additionally work to “advance understanding” of Atiku’s “management posture and coverage imaginative and prescient” amongst American policymakers.
Below the deal, the lobbying agency is predicted to rearrange high-level conferences between Atiku and U.S. officers. This consists of members of Congress, their aides, and officers throughout the government department.
The engagement will concentrate on points resembling democratic governance, {economic} development, regional stability, and U.S.-Nigeria relations.
“These actions embrace lobbying and authorities affairs engagement with members of Congress, congressional employees, and government department officers regarding points associated to democratic governance, regional stability, {economic} growth, and U.S. engagement with Nigeria and the broader West African area,” a part of the contract learn.
Past political entry, the agency may even deal with Atiku’s public picture in america. This consists of strategic communication, message growth, and broader notion administration efforts focused at influential stakeholders.
“This consists of the event of messaging methods, narrative positioning, and reputational advisory companies,” the doc added.
The contract is valued at $1.2 million and can run for a interval of 12 months. Funds are structured in six instalments over the period of the Treaty.
The event is seen by political observers as a part of Atiku’s early positioning forward of the 2027 presidential race. He stays one of many main opposition figures and is broadly anticipated to play a significant position within the subsequent election cycle.
This comes amid inside challenges throughout the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a platform not too long ago adopted by Atiku and different opposition leaders. The celebration is presently going through a management dispute following the choice of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) to withdraw recognition from factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala.
In a associated growth, the lobbying agency confirmed that it might interact prime U.S. authorities, together with President Donald Trump and members of Congress, over the state of affairs throughout the ADC.
The agency raised considerations that INEC’s motion “has successfully frozen Nigeria’s important opposition political celebration at a important second because it prepares to compete within the upcoming Nigerian presidential election, elevating severe considerations concerning the opposition’s capability to organise and take part absolutely within the democratic course of.”
The agency additionally referred to as on President Bola Tinubu to make sure that future elections in Nigeria stay credible and mirror the need of the individuals.