Atiku’s US Lobby Firm Says Tinubu Runs a One-Party State

ABUJA — A United States-based lobby firm hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of increasingly behaving like a single-party dictatorship. The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, published its claims on its official X account and said it has briefed Trump administration officials on the matter.

The firm said it is engaging the US government over alleged human rights concerns in Nigeria. These include political intimidation, arrests of government critics, and what it described as the deliberate weakening of democratic freedoms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The Nigerian government under Bola Tinubu is increasingly displaying the behaviour of a single-party dictatorship consolidating power through fear and intimidation,” the firm stated. It added that citizens and public figures who criticise the government are facing arrests and detention.

Atiku signed a $1.2 million contract with the firm in March 2026. The agreement runs for 12 months. Its stated objectives include countering the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives in Washington and advancing understanding of Atiku’s policy vision among US policymakers.

Tinubu Government Responds

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissed the lobby firm’s claims as politically motivated. He said Atiku is spending millions of dollars to damage Nigeria’s international reputation for personal political gain. “This is the conduct of someone who has lost faith in the democratic process,” Onanuga said.

The Presidency said Nigeria remains a functioning democracy with an independent judiciary, active opposition parties, and a free press. It said any citizen or political opponent who faces legal action does so because of specific allegations, not because of their political beliefs.

However, opposition parties and civil society groups say the pattern of arrests targeting El-Rufai, former officials, and government critics cannot be dismissed as routine law enforcement. They say the concentration of legal actions against Tinubu’s political opponents is too consistent to be coincidental.

Washington as a Battleground

Atiku’s use of a Washington lobby firm reflects a broader trend of Nigerian politicians taking their battles to American soil. The United States is seen as influential in shaping international perceptions of Nigerian governance. A negative assessment from Washington can affect foreign investment, aid flows, and diplomatic relations.

Furthermore, Trump’s administration has shown interest in Africa’s political stability. Several African leaders have sought to cultivate good relations with Washington since Trump returned to office in 2025. Atiku’s team is betting that raising Nigeria’s democratic concerns at the highest levels in Washington will add pressure on Tinubu.

Political analysts say the lobby campaign is unlikely to directly change the outcome of Nigerian politics. However, it keeps international attention on Nigeria’s democratic health and makes it harder for the Tinubu government to project an image of stability and good governance to foreign investors and partners.