FORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has enlisted the services of a Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York L.C., in a move aimed at strengthening his reputational standing and political positioning within the United States.
News Point Nigeria reports that documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that the agreement was executed on March 9 and 10, 2026. The contract was signed by the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji, acting on behalf of Atiku.
According to filings obtained from the DOJ’s official website, the engagement is designed to shape perceptions of the former vice-president within U.S. policy and political circles, while countering narratives associated with the Nigerian government.
A key objective of the contract is to “counterbalance” what the document described as the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives in the United States. It also seeks to “advance understanding” of Atiku’s leadership style and policy vision among American policymakers and stakeholders.
Under the terms of the agreement, the firm will facilitate high-level engagements between Atiku and U.S. government officials, including members of Congress and executive branch authorities. The scope of work also includes advisory services on policy positioning, strategic communication, and political engagement.
Part of the filing states that the firm’s responsibilities will 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.”
In addition to direct lobbying, the firm is tasked with managing Atiku’s public image through targeted perception management and public relations efforts aimed at improving his standing among U.S. policymakers and influential stakeholders.
“This includes the development of messaging strategies, narrative positioning, and reputational advisory services,” the document noted.
The agreement is valued at $1.2 million over a 12-month period and will be paid in six instalments, reflecting a significant investment in international political engagement.
The development comes at a time when Atiku is widely regarded as a potential contender in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election. His political future, however, is intertwined with ongoing uncertainty within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a platform increasingly associated with opposition realignment efforts.
The ADC is currently grappling with a leadership crisis following a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala, a move that has complicated the party’s internal structure and political readiness.
In a related development, the lobbying firm, in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on April 2, disclosed plans to engage U.S. authorities, including President Donald Trump and members of Congress, over INEC’s action concerning the ADC.
The firm argued that the electoral commission’s decision “has effectively frozen Nigeria’s main opposition political party at a critical moment as it prepares to compete in the upcoming presidential election,” raising concerns about the opposition’s ability to organise and participate fully in the democratic process.
It also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that future elections in Nigeria are credible, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people.
The move by Atiku signals an intensifying political build-up ahead of 2027, with international lobbying and perception management emerging as key elements in the evolving contest for Nigeria’s highest office.