A Washington-based lobbying firm hired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has threatened to recommend sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against Nigerian politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) involved in election manipulation.
Von Batten-Montague-York, the firm, said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday that it would begin highlighting electoral officials and political actors involved in rigging, with a view to pushing for punitive measures through the office of the US President and Congress.
“We will recommend to the Office of the President and Congress that Global Magnitsky sanctions be imposed on any Nigerian politician or INEC official engaged in efforts to rig Nigeria’s ongoing electoral process,” the firm said. “These measures should include freezing all foreign assets, restricting access to the global financial system, and imposing travel bans on individuals and their immediate family members.”
The firm noted that while the US State Department has acknowledged INEC’s capacity to conduct credible elections, the commission has repeatedly shown weaknesses when confronted with deliberate interference by political actors. It cited the 2023 elections as an example and warned that similar challenges may be emerging.
Von Batten-Montague-York said it is engaging key US lawmakers and plans to brief congressional leadership and senior officials at the National Security Council next week.
“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 statement added.
Atiku Abubakar hired the firm to protect and strengthen his “reputational standing” in the United States. Documents filed with the US Department of Justice show that the agreement, signed in March 2026 by the firm’s managing partner Karl Von Batten and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji, includes facilitating meetings between Atiku and US officials, providing policy guidance, and countering narratives from the Nigerian government.
The development comes amid rising global concern over electoral malpractices in Nigeria, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
