Von Batten-Montague-York, United States-based political advisory and lobbying firm, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu is working to rig Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election through state institutions.
In a statement posted on its verified X handle on Saturday, the firm claimed the president and his associates were using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies to “purge and intimidate” opposition parties and candidates. It said the evidence was “undisputed.”
The firm did not however, provide evidence to support the claim in the post.
But on its X, it said that “We have made it clear to members of the US President Trump Administration and the Congress that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is actively working to rig the upcoming Nigerian presidential election,” the statement read.
The firm specifically alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was being deployed to target opposition figures.
“The latest attempt by President Tinubu and his associates is to use Nigerian law enforcement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to eliminate political opponents,” it stated.
According to Von Batten-Montague-York, “an individual connected to President Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC), has given the EFCC the extraordinary ultimatum of 14 days to arrest opposing presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”
“The US is monitoring the Nigerian election process. Nevertheless, we plan to brief them and Congress on this latest attempt by Tinubu to use the EFCC to rig the election,” it added.
“It is in the interests of the US for Nigeria to undergo a free and fair election, and all persons and organizations seeking to disrupt the process should be held accountable,” the statement concluded.
As of press time, the Presidency, APC, INEC, and EFCC had not responded to the allegations.
The 2027 general elections are still more than a year away, but political activities have begun to intensify, with opposition parties already in talks over possible coalitions ahead of the polls.
