Presidency Critiques Atiku's $1.2M U.S. Lobbying Deal

Dr. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding his reported $1.2 million lobbying agreement with the Washington-based firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. Dare accused Atiku of orchestrating a campaign from the U.S. to disrupt President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election efforts.

He stated that Atiku's agenda is politically motivated and aimed at securing foreign validation ahead of the 2027 general elections. Dare referenced publicly available filings under the U.S.

Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which indicated that Atiku contracted the firm for a 12-month retainer. He questioned the credibility of Dr. Karl-Marx Edward Okeke-Von Batten, labeling him a commercial lobbyist rather than a U.S. government official, and urged skepticism towards claims of his influence over U.S. court proceedings.

Dare also challenged the opposition to provide evidence for their allegations and argued that the focus on historical U.S. legal records detracts from presenting concrete policy alternatives to Nigerians.