Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar signed a $1.2 million lobbying contract with Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a Washington-based firm, on March 9 and 10, 2026. The agreement, filed with the US Department of Justice, spans 12 months and aims to enhance Atiku's "reputational standing" in the United States. Karl Von Batten, managing partner of the firm, and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji signed the documents. The firm will represent Atiku under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), engaging in lobbying, public relations, and policy advocacy.
Von Batten-Montague-York will arrange meetings with US officials, counsel on lawmakers and stakeholders, and counter narratives about Atiku from the Nigerian federal government. The contract includes six installment payments and focuses on shaping US understanding of Atiku's policy positions. Activities will cover perception management and influencing US-Nigeria bilateral relations. The firm has indicated plans to raise concerns about Nigeria's opposition landscape, particularly as Atiku seeks to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Atiku, aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), faces internal party divisions. INEC has refused to recognize ADC factions following a court ruling, prompting coalition leaders to consider alternative alliances. The lobbying effort reflects a broader trend of Nigerian political and business figures seeking influence in Washington. The federal government previously spent $9 million on a US lobbying deal over religious freedom issues.
Atiku is spending $1.2 million to shape how Washington sees him, not to fix what's broken at home. While Nigerian politicians outsource image management to US firms, voters are left to wonder if their real concerns—jobs, security, power—will ever get the same investment. This deal isn't about policy—it's about perception, and it shows where the priorities of top politicians truly lie. For Nigerians, it underscores how deeply removed elite political strategies are from everyday struggles.
