Former American mental health therapist Jeffrey Guterman asserts that the recent lobbying campaign launched by Atiku Abubakar regarding President Bola Tinubu’s historical US legal case will fail to hinder the President’s chances in the 2027 elections. Guterman shared this perspective on social media following reports that the firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. is circulating documents about a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving Tinubu to US officials and lawmakers.
Atiku reportedly secured the firm earlier this year in a $1.2 million deal to manage diplomatic outreach and advocacy. Guterman dismissed the potential impact of these disclosures, noting that existing political narratives are likely to favor Tinubu. He suggested that unless the 2027 election is free from the irregularities and violence seen in 2023, the incumbent will likely retain power.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, maintains that these files, which touch on historical allegations, have been presented to the administration of President Donald Trump to ensure transparency for the Nigerian public. Conversely, former senator Shehu Sani has condemned the strategy, calling it unpatriotic. Sani warned that utilizing foreign entities to influence internal Nigerian politics risks damaging the nation’s global reputation and could potentially lead to international sanctions.
