Retired American mental health counsellor Jeffrey Guterman has dismissed the lobbying campaign launched by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to expose President Bola Tinubu’s alleged past US forfeiture case, stating it will not hinder Tinubu’s chances of winning the 2027 presidential election. Guterman made the comment in a post on his X handle on Thursday, reacting to reports that Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., hired by Atiku, has begun sharing documents related to the 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds linked to Tinubu with officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, members of Congress, and congressional staff.
The lobbying firm claims it is distributing records from the US Department of Justice that detail allegations tied to Tinubu’s past legal case in the United States. According to DAILY POST, Atiku engaged the firm in March under a 12-month contract worth $1.2 million, with the mandate to conduct advocacy, diplomatic outreach, and present his views on Nigeria-US relations. Guterman, however, believes the effort will have minimal impact on Nigeria’s upcoming elections, arguing that Tinubu’s victory in 2027 is likely due to propaganda and media narratives favouring him.
In his X post, Guterman stated, “Let’s be honest with ourselves. The U.S. lobbying effort to reveal Nigeria President Tinubu’s drug trafficking will do nothing. He will probably win in 2027 due to propaganda news on Tinubu.” He added, “I affirm that Tinubu will win in 2027 unless on election day rigging and violence, like there was in 2023, is stopped.” These remarks highlight his view that domestic political dynamics, including electoral misconduct, will play a bigger role than foreign lobbying in determining the election outcome.
Paul Ibe, an aide to Atiku, claimed that President Trump has been informed of court documents related to Tinubu’s past legal records in the US. In a post on X, Ibe alleged that 60-page files from the US Department of Justice, which include allegations of heroin trafficking and the forfeiture of $460,000, have been brought to Trump’s attention through the lobbying firm Batten Von. He emphasized that Nigerians have a right to know the full details of the matter.
However, former lawmaker Shehu Sani criticized Atiku’s decision to involve a foreign lobbying firm in the political battle. Sani described the move as unconscionable and unpatriotic, warning that it could harm Nigeria’s international standing, deepen global distrust of Nigerians, and potentially lead to sanctions or visa restrictions. He urged the opposition to pursue political change through democratic processes within Nigeria rather than relying on foreign intervention.
As the 2027 elections approach, the debate over transparency, accountability, and the role of foreign influence in Nigerian politics continues to intensify. The outcome of this political contest may ultimately hinge on how Nigerians respond to both domestic governance and external narratives.
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