Atiku heightens global lobbying against Tinubu
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stepped up international advocacy against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. This happened as a United States-based public relations firm linked to Atiku announced that
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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stepped up international advocacy against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
This happened as a United States-based public relations firm linked to Atiku announced that it was engaging officials in Donald Trump’s administration on concerns about insecurity and electoral integrity in Nigeria.
The firm, Batten-Montague-York, L.C., on Wednesday posted a statement on its X handle, stating that it was briefing key figures in the U.S. government on what it called an “insecurity and ongoing attempts to undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s elections”.
The claim signals an escalation in Atiku’s external engagement strategy, coming amid heightened political tensions ahead of the 2027 general election.
In the statement on Wednesday, the U.S. firm acknowledged the status of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as “a statesman with a long and respected legacy,” but complained that “his tenure as President is not viewed favourably by a majority of Nigerians”.
It stated that as a registered foreign agent in the United States, it does not possess the authority to influence leadership change in Nigeria.
“As American-registered foreign agents, we have no authority to remove a sitting leader from office; that power rests exclusively with the Nigerian people,” the statement read.
The firm said its engagement in Washington was based on what it called factual concerns, adding that Atiku had directed it to push for stronger U.S. involvement on issues relating to security and democratic processes in Nigeria.
“Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not your adversary, but a fellow statesman who has directed us to advocate for U.S. engagement aimed at ending the killing of innocent Nigerians and ensuring that the right to free and fair elections is fully respected,” it stated.
The lobbying effort also referenced potential international accountability measures, including the possibility of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky framework, if evidence emerges linking individuals to human rights violations or electoral misconduct.
“The Nigerian presidency is not your birthright, but a privilege bestowed by the Nigerian people, and if the Nigerian people decide you have to go, then you have to go,” the firm said.
It promised to “continue to advocate for appropriate U.S. accountability measures, including consideration of Global Magnitsky sanctions should credible evidence establish complicity in the killing of Christians in Northern Nigeria or in efforts to rig the upcoming presidential election”.
