A Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has said it will urge United States authorities, including President Donald Trump and members of Congress, to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s derecognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress.
In a statement on Wednesday, the firm raised concerns about INEC’s role in Nigeria’s electoral process, citing past and emerging challenges.
It said, “Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, though supported by the United States and the European Union, has the capacity to credibly manage federal elections.
“Yet, INEC has demonstrated serious weaknesses in safeguarding free, fair, and credible elections when confronted with deliberate efforts by Nigerian political actors to manipulate and undermine the voting process.”
It added that “this was evident during the 2023 Nigerian elections, and current developments suggest the same pattern may be emerging again.”
The firm disclosed that it is already engaging US policymakers, noting that “the U.S. House and Senate are currently on Easter recess, but we are actively echoing the State Department’s assessment to key members of Congress and intend to brief congressional leadership and senior members of the U.S. National Security Council early next week.”
It further stated that “unlike the Biden Administration, which took no meaningful action in 2023, it is not in President Donald Trump’s nature to remain passive in the face of an election being openly undermined.”
The firm said it would recommend sanctions under the Global Magnitsky framework, stating, “We will recommend to the Office of the President and Congress that Global Magnitsky sanctions be imposed on any Nigerian politician or official of INEC who engages in efforts to rig Nigeria’s ongoing electoral process.”
It added that such measures would include “freezing all foreign assets, restricting access to the global financial system, and imposing travel bans on individuals and their immediate family members.”
The latest development follows the firm’s earlier statement on April 2, in which it said INEC’s decision “has effectively frozen Nigeria’s main opposition political party at a critical moment as it prepares to compete in the upcoming Nigerian presidential election, raising serious concerns about the opposition’s ability to organise and participate fully in the democratic process.”
The lobbying effort is linked to a $1.2 million contract signed in March 2026 by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which mandates the firm to engage U.S. officials, shape policy conversations, and manage his international profile.
INEC’s decision to derecognise rival leadership factions within the ADC, including those led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala, has intensified internal disputes within the party and drawn reactions from opposition figures concerned about its implications for Nigeria’s multi-party system ahead of the 2027 elections.
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