US Foyer Agency Employed By Atiku Threatens Sanctions Towards INEC Officers, Election Riggers
Von Batten-Montague-York, a Washington-based lobbying agency employed by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to advocate sanctions towards Nigerian politicians and officers of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) who try to govern or undermine the nation’s electoral course of.
The transfer follows rising world concern over electoral malpractices in Nigeria.
In an announcement posted on X on Wednesday, the agency stated it could start spotlighting electoral officers and people concerned in election rigging, with a view to pushing for punitive measures.
The agency stated it could advocate offenders to the workplace of the US president and Congress for sanctions, together with asset freezes and journey bans.
“We are going to advocate to the Workplace of the President and Congress that International Magnitsky sanctions be imposed on any Nigerian politician or official of INEC who engages in efforts to rig Nigeria’s ongoing electoral course of,” it wrote.
“These measures ought to embody freezing all international belongings, limiting entry to the worldwide {financial} system, and imposing journey bans on people and their speedy relations.”
Von Batten-Montague-York stated that though the US State Division has acknowledged INEC’s institutional capability to conduct credible federal elections, the fee has repeatedly proven weaknesses when confronted with deliberate interference by political actors.
In line with the agency, these vulnerabilities have been evident through the 2023 elections, noting that “present developments counsel the identical sample could also be rising once more.”
Regardless of the US Congress being on Easter recess, the agency stated it’s actively participating key lawmakers and plans to temporary congressional management and senior officers on the nationwide safety council early subsequent week.
“Not like the Biden Administration, which took no significant motion in 2023, it isn’t in President Donald Trump’s nature to stay passive within the face of an election being brazenly undermined,” it acknowledged.
The agency maintained that its goal is to carry accountable any politicians or INEC officers who compromise the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.
Atiku Abubakar lately employed the agency to guard and strengthen his “reputational standing” within the US.
The Treaty, signed by managing accomplice Karl Von Batten and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji on March 9 and 10, 2026, outlines plans to counter the Nigerian authorities’s lobbying narratives in Washington.
In line with paperwork filed with the US Division of Justice, the agency will facilitate conferences between Atiku and US officers and members of Congress, whereas additionally offering “steering on coverage positioning, reputational issues, and engagement technique.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Times Nigeria