US Firm Alleges Tinubu Actively Working to Rig 2027 Election via INEC, Judiciary and EFCC
Lagos/Abuja, September 5, 2026—A United States-based political advisory and lobbying firm has accused President Bola Tinubu of actively working to rig Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, claiming he is deploying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate and eliminate political opponents.
Von Batten-Montague-York made the allegation in a statement posted on its verified X account on Saturday. The firm said it has already informed members of the US Trump Administration and Congress of its concerns.
“We have made it clear to members of the US President Trump Administration and the Congress that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is actively working to rig the upcoming Nigerian presidential election,” the statement read.
“The latest attempt by President Tinubu and his associates is to use Nigerian law enforcement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to eliminate political opponents.”
According to the firm, an individual connected to Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has given the EFCC an “extraordinary ultimatum of 14 days” to arrest former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a leading opposition figure expected to contest the 2027 election.
The lobbyists further alleged that Tinubu is using INEC and the judiciary to purge and intimidate opposition political parties and their candidates, describing the evidence as “undisputed.”
They stated that the United States is monitoring Nigeria’s election process and that they plan to brief US officials and Congress on the latest developments involving the EFCC.
“It is in the interests of the US for Nigeria to undergo a free and fair election, and all persons and organizations seeking to disrupt the process should be held accountable,” the firm added.
Context of the Lobbying Battle
Von Batten-Montague-York is a Washington-based firm registered under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act. Public records and multiple reports show it was retained by Atiku Abubakar in March 2026 under a 12-month, $1.2 million contract.
The agreement covers strengthening Atiku’s reputational standing in the United States, facilitating engagements with US officials and Congress, and countering narratives advanced by the Nigerian government.
The firm has previously circulated historical US Department of Justice records related to a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving Tinubu and has publicly discussed recommending Global Magnitsky sanctions against individuals it believes are involved in election manipulation.
These activities form part of a broader, high-stakes lobbying contest in Washington ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 polls, with both government-linked and opposition actors spending millions on American firms.
As of Saturday evening, there was no immediate public response from the Presidency, the APC, INEC or the EFCC to the specific claims made in the latest statement.
Rising Political Temperature Ahead of 2027
The allegations land amid intensifying political maneuvering more than a year before Nigerians head to the polls. Opposition figures and civil society groups have repeatedly voiced concerns about the independence of electoral and judicial institutions, while the ruling party maintains that democratic processes remain intact and that legal actions against individuals follow due process.
Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election is expected to be highly competitive, with Tinubu seeking a second term and several opposition candidates, including Atiku, positioning themselves as alternatives.
International attention, particularly from the United States, has grown as both sides seek to shape external perceptions.
Whether the claims by Von Batten-Montague-York will influence US policy or domestic political dynamics remains to be seen.
What is clear is that the contest for Nigeria’s next presidency is already being fought as much in Washington boardrooms and on social media as it will eventually be at the ballot box.
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