We're engaging Trump govt over Tinubu's 'plot' to rig 2027 polls - Atiku's US firm

A US lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has announced its engagement with senior members of the Trump administration and Congress in response to President Bola Tinubu's alleged attempt to manipulate Nigeria's judiciary for rigging the upcoming presidential election. The firm highlighted the State Department's documentation of corruption within Nigeria's judiciary and the political pressure exerted by government officials on the courts.

It expressed concern that the 119th Congress and the State Department's failure to prevent the alleged election rigging would tarnish their legacy.

The statement followed a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and invalidated Atiku's nomination as the party's candidate for the 2027 election. The firm deemed the timing of the ruling suspicious, claiming that Tinubu's officials convened following Atiku's large rally in Sokoto, suggesting the ruling was a result of that meeting.

The firm also pointed out that the move coincided with Democrats in Congress preparing to investigate Tinubu's mining Memorandum of Understanding. It warned that such actions could escalate political unrest in Nigeria, with severe repercussions for US interests and regional stability.