Atiku Abubakar hired a lobbying firm in the United States that said President Donald Trump would not stay quiet if Nigeria’s elections are rigged. They also warned that those involved in rigging elections could face international sanctions.
The Washington-based company Von Batten-Montague-York said it is already calling for punishment for Nigerian politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who are accused of rigging elections.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, the firm stressed that the current US leadership would take a tougher stance compared to previous years.
“Unlike the Biden Administration, which took no meaningful action in 2023, it is not in President Donald Trump’s nature to remain passive in the face of an election being openly undermined,” the firm stated.
It added that it would recommend sanctions under the Global Magnitsky framework, including asset freezes, restrictions from the global financial system, and travel bans for offenders and their immediate family members.
“We will recommend to the Office of the President and Congress that Global Magnitsky sanctions be imposed on any Nigerian politician or official of INEC who engages in efforts to rig Nigeria’s ongoing electoral process,” the firm said.
The development comes amid renewed concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s elections, with the firm arguing that while INEC has the institutional capacity to deliver credible polls, it has repeatedly shown weaknesses when confronted with political interference.
The company says that these problems were clear during the 2023 general elections and that recent events suggest that similar problems may be on the rise.
Even though the US Congress is on Easter break, the company said it is already talking to important lawmakers and plans to brief congressional leaders and high-ranking officials at the US National Security Council next week.
The background information states that Atiku Abubakar just employed the lobbying group to enhance his standing in the US.
The deal, which was signed in March 2026, includes initiatives to refute the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives in Washington, according to documents submitted to the US Department of Justice.
In addition to offering advice on policy positions, reputational considerations, and foreign engagement strategy, the business is anticipated to broker meetings between Atiku and US government officials as part of the agreement.
