A United States-based lobbying firm working for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that Washington is assessing a potential political scenario beyond President Bola Tinubu ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
Von Batten Montague York-LC made the claim in a post on X on Friday, as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 poll.
The firm, which was retained by Atiku under a reported 12-month lobbying and strategic advisory agreement, has been actively engaging on issues surrounding Nigeria’s political and electoral landscape. Public records cited by The Guardian show that the firm registered a $1.2 million contract with Atiku in April 2026.
In its latest statement, the firm said it believed President Tinubu could not secure re-election without what it described as “undemocratic tactics (rigging)” by the government.
The claim was made by the lobbying firm and was not accompanied by independent evidence establishing that the US government is conducting such an assessment.
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Von Batten Montague York-LC said its immediate objective was to ensure that US officials communicated to Tinubu and officials within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Washington was monitoring developments surrounding the 2027 election.
“Our objective now is to ensure that the United States communicates clearly to President #Tinubu and his allies at @inecnigeria that it is monitoring developments and that there will be consequences for any actions that silence the will of the Nigerian people and adversely affect U.S. interests in the region,” the firm said.
The firm, however, stressed that Washington was not taking sides in Nigeria’s presidential contest.
“Let us be clear: the United States is not taking sides. The next Nigerian president will be decided by the Nigerian people, and the Nigerian people alone,” it said.
The latest comments are part of a series of interventions by the firm concerning the Tinubu administration and the 2027 election. In September, the firm said it would engage the administration of US President Donald Trump over Nigeria and advocate for free and fair elections.
The firm has also made several other claims concerning the Nigerian government and US-Nigeria relations, some of which have been disputed or remain unverified. Its activities have drawn criticism from Nigerian figures, including former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode.
The 2027 presidential election is expected to feature President Tinubu seeking another term, alongside opposition figures and emerging political alliances.