Atiku Hires Lobbying Firm To Boost Image In US – Report

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has engaged a Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., to project his image and reputation in the United States.

The agreement is valued at $1.2 million for a 12-month period, payable in six instalments.

According to documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, an agreement was signed on March 9 and 10, 2026, by the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji on behalf of the former vice president. Fabiyi is a known loyalist of the former vice president. Atiku is a 2027 presidential aspirant in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

As noted on the DOJ’s website on Sunday, the contract is aimed at projecting Atiku’s influence within U.S. policy circles and pushing back against narratives linked to the Nigerian government.

An objective of the deal is to counterbalance the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives and to advance US policymakers’ understanding of Atiku’s leadership posture and policy vision.

The firm is meant to arrange meetings between Atiku and U.S. government officials and provide advisory services on policy positioning and engagement strategy.

A part of the contract reads, “These activities include lobbying and government affairs engagement with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and executive branch officials concerning issues related to democratic governance, regional stability, economic development, and U.S. engagement with Nigeria and the broader West African region.”

What’s more, the firm is expected to “promote, perception management, and public relations activities designed to enhance understanding among U.S. policymakers and relevant stakeholders” of Atiku’s positions.

“This includes the development of messaging strategies, narrative positioning, and reputational advisory services,” the document added.

These moves come as the ADC battles to remain viable after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) derecognised the party leadership led by David Mark, while rejecting a faction led by Nafiu Bala.

The lobbying firm had, in a statement via its X handle on April 2, disclosed its plans to engage U.S. authorities regarding INEC’s derecognition of the ADC’s leadership.

It said the action “has effectively frozen Nigeria’s main opposition political party at a critical moment as it prepares to compete in the upcoming Nigerian presidential election, raising serious concerns about the opposition’s ability to organise and participate fully in the democratic process.”

The firm also urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that future elections are “beyond reproach” and reflective of the will of the people.