2027: America won’t allow Tinubu to rig polls in Nigeria — US firm roars

A US-based political advisory and lobbying company, Von Batten-Montague-York, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, warning that the United States cannot afford to allow President Bola Tinubu to rig the polls.

The firm made the claim in a Thursday post on its verified X account, stressing that the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria would be important to American interests in Nigeria and across the wider West African region.

It also alleged that concerns about corruption within Tinubu’s administration are increasing among politicians across different political divides.

According to the firm, Tinubu had appointed a serving minister overseeing the national budget despite an alleged past connection to the embezzlement of money from Nigeria’s treasury. However, the company did not present supporting documents for the allegation in the latest post.

“The US cannot afford to allow President Tinubu to rig the upcoming Nigerian election,” the firm stated.

The company further warned that what it described as “lawlessness” in Nigeria could lead the country towards a situation similar to those experienced in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. It maintained that ensuring free and fair elections would be necessary to safeguard US interests in Nigeria and the broader West African region.

The latest comments follow other claims previously made by the firm about Nigeria’s 2027 electoral process. Earlier this month, it alleged that Tinubu was deploying government institutions, including INEC, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, against opposition parties and candidates. The firm, however, did not provide evidence for that claim in its post.

Von Batten-Montague-York is a private lobbying and policy advisory firm, meaning its statements do not represent official positions of the United States government.