A political row over foreign lobbying has intensified, with the Presidency questioning former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s reported engagement of a U.S.-based firm ahead of the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said filings under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, FARA, indicated that Atiku hired Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. for 12 months at a cost of 1.2 million dollars.
Dare described the arrangement as politically driven, alleging that it was designed to secure foreign support and challenge the Federal Government using historical U.S. legal records.
He also rejected claims associated with the firm’s founder, Dr Karl-Marx Edward Okeke-Von Batten, stressing that he is a commercial lobbyist and not a U.S. government official.
Dare cautioned against treating the lobbyist’s statements or alleged access to President Donald Trump’s administration as official positions of the U.S. government.
He said the Freedom of Information case concerning historical U.S. records had been before the courts since 2023 and was not connected to President Tinubu’s current foreign engagements.
Dare maintained that the FBI’s position in the case was primarily to protect investigative methods, confidential sources and sensitive information.
He accused opposition politicians of relying on old U.S. records and foreign lobbying instead of offering Nigerians clear policy alternatives ahead of 2027.
The presidential aide said the Tinubu administration was focused on fiscal reforms, infrastructure and institutional changes, adding that voters would ultimately judge political parties by their performance and policy proposals.
