A United States-based lobbying and political advisory firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of allegedly interfering in Nigeria’s judicial process to undermine former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The firm warned President Tinubu, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Federal High Court judgment nullifying Atiku’s nomination as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate could attract international scrutiny.
In a statement posted on its verified X account on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the firm alleged that the judgment was politically motivated and formed part of efforts to weaken the opposition following the large turnout at Atiku’s presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State.
Von Batten-Montague-York, which has previously been engaged to provide lobbying and strategic advisory services for Atiku in the United States, maintained that the circumstances surrounding the judgment raised questions about possible political interference.
The firm alleged that officials of the Tinubu administration held a meeting following Wednesday’s campaign rally in Sokoto and suggested that the subsequent court judgment was connected to the alleged meeting.
“Apparently scared by yesterday’s turnout in support of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who happens to be President Tinubu’s main political opponent, Tinubu’s officials reportedly met last night, and the result of that meeting is allegedly this highly suspicious court ruling,” the firm stated.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s (@officialABAT) agents and officials are truly the gift that keeps on giving. The Nigerian Presidency is openly celebrating a court ruling that reportedly indicates they arranged to eliminate current Nigerian President Tinubu’s main rival in the upcoming Nigerian presidential election.
We are going to be presenting the @X post of @fkeyamo, President Tinubu’s Minister of Aviation, whose government portfolio has nothing to do with elections or electoral integrity, openly celebrating what a senior congressional staffer described as an “open display of election interference by the Nigerian government,” to members of the @realDonaldTrump administration and Congress.
We have a prediction for current Nigerian President Tinubu: In a few months, you are going to look at this court ruling and @fkeyamo’s post as the defining moment when the rope the United States has been giving you to figuratively hang yourself finally became the instrument of your own political downfall
@JDVance @SusieWiles47 @WhiteHouse @SecRubio @HouseForeignGOP @HouseForeign @SenateForeign @SFRCdems @SenTedCruz @RepBrianMast @HouseGOP @SenateGOP @HouseDemocrats @SenateDems @StateDept @DeputySecState @AsstSecStateAF
— Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. (@batten_von) November 5, 2026
However, the firm did not provide publicly verifiable evidence establishing that the alleged meeting took place or that the Presidency influenced the court’s decision.
The allegations followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the leadership of the ADC under former Senate President David Mark.
The court declared the Mark-led caretaker committee unlawful and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Lifu also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Secretary, alongside other national officers and candidates nominated under the disputed leadership.
The judgment arose from a suit instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that the leadership arrangement violated the ADC constitution and applicable electoral requirements.
Following the judgment, Atiku rejected suggestions that the development would weaken his presidential campaign and accused the APC of attempting to frustrate his political ambition.
Keyamo, however, welcomed the ruling, arguing that the disputed ADC leadership had failed to comply with the party’s established procedures.
The minister maintained that legal disputes must be determined by facts and evidence rather than political sentiments.
“Justice may be slow, but it is always SURE!” Keyamo declared in his public reaction to the judgment.
His comments subsequently attracted criticism from Von Batten-Montague-York, which accused the minister of celebrating a decision it believed was intended to weaken the opposition.
The US firm questioned Keyamo’s involvement in public commentary on the judgment, arguing that his ministerial responsibilities in aviation did not extend to electoral administration.
It announced plans to present his social media statement to members of President Donald Trump’s administration and the United States Congress as part of its allegations concerning Nigeria’s electoral environment.
According to the firm, a senior congressional staff member had described the circumstances as an “open display of election interference by the Nigerian government.”
The identity of the alleged congressional staff member was not disclosed, and the statement did not establish that any US authority had independently reached such a conclusion.
Von Batten-Montague-York nevertheless maintained that Keyamo’s reaction would be presented in Washington as evidence supporting its position that the judgment was political rather than purely judicial.
The firm further alleged that the Tinubu administration had chosen the wrong moment to pursue what it characterised as another attempt to influence the outcome of the forthcoming presidential election.
It warned that the controversy could attract attention from American political institutions and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“The court case nullifying Atiku will be your doom. You celebrated too early. Washington is watching,” the firm declared.
The statement represents another intervention by the US-based lobbying firm in Nigeria’s political affairs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Its previous engagement by Atiku is relevant to its position in the dispute, as the firm has an established professional relationship with the former Vice-President.
The allegations against Tinubu, Keyamo and the APC remain claims made by the firm. No evidence has been independently established showing that the Presidency directed, influenced or interfered with Justice Lifu’s judgment.
Similarly, the firm’s announcement that it would present information to the Trump administration and Congress does not establish that either institution has commenced an investigation or adopted its allegations.
Meanwhile, the ADC has indicated that it will challenge the Federal High Court judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The party’s proposed appeal leaves the final legal position concerning its national leadership and Atiku’s presidential nomination subject to further judicial determination.
As the political exchanges continue, the controversy has widened beyond the ADC’s internal leadership dispute, with Von Batten-Montague-York seeking to draw the attention of US authorities to allegations of interference in Nigeria’s electoral and judicial processes.
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