A Washington-based lobbying firm linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on members of a Peoples Democratic Party faction to provide verifiable evidence of alleged political interference ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The call follows an allegation by the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction of a plot to stop a ratification ceremony for former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate. The camp, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, berated the Federal Capital Territory Administration for threatening to shut down the venue of the event, alleging that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike threatened to shut down the A Class Event Centre if the PDP was allowed to use the hall for the ceremony.
The lobbying firm posted on its X account: “We would like to speak with members of the PDP who can provide credible, verifiable, and indisputable evidence regarding the reported election interference by Governor Wike,” directing interested persons to contact them via email.
For context, the firm in question is Von Batten-Montague-York, a Washington-based firm with which Atiku signed a 12-month contract worth $1.2 million, executed on March 9 and 10, 2026, as documented in filings with the US Department of Justice.
Under the deal, the firm is tasked with countering what it describes as the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives in Washington, while promoting Atiku’s leadership credentials and policy agenda among US policymakers.
The Jonathan 2027 endorsement by the Turaki faction further deepened divisions within the PDP on Friday 29th May, with the rival camp led by Wike’s supporters questioning the legitimacy of the Turaki-led faction to endorse Jonathan, a week after Senator Sandy Onor was screened, cleared, and officially presented as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.