2027 Race Heats Up As Tinubu, Atiku Camps Trade Accusations

•Presidency dismisses US lobbying reports as political gambit

•Former VP lacks moral ground to cry ‘thieves’, says TMSG

The Presidency and supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have exchanged fresh accusations over his political record, US lobbying activities and allegations surrounding President Bola Tinubu, in a development that has further heated up the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, dismissed reports emanating from Washington concerning historical records on Tinubu, describing the campaign as politically motivated.

Dare, in a statement issued on Tuesday titled, “Speculation as Classified Information: Atiku’s $1.2 million Lobbying Gamble Exposed,” alleged that a Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., had been engaged by Atiku for a 12-month retainer reportedly valued at $1.2 million.

He said filings under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act showed that the firm was involved in efforts relating to historical US records concerning Tinubu, which he alleged were being pursued for political advantage ahead of the 2027 election.

Dare also accused the firm of presenting political claims as though they represented the position of the US government.

“The incendiary press releases being carefully churned out from Washington are public relations propaganda sheets passed off as the view of the U.S. Government. They are not,” he said.

The presidential aide challenged those behind the claims to produce the alleged classified intelligence report and identify the US officials responsible for the information being circulated.

He specifically rejected attempts to portray comments by the founder of the lobbying firm, Karl Von Batten, as representing the position of the US government or President Donald Trump.

“Dr. Karl Von Batten’s comments represent solely the position of an individual associated with Atiku-linked political interests, not the U.S. government or President Trump,” Dare said.

The controversy centres on historical US records involving Tinubu, including documents linked to a 1990s civil forfeiture proceeding in which funds were forfeited to American authorities.

A member of Tinubu’s US legal team, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wole Afolabi, has defended the legal action surrounding the release of some of the records, saying it was based on rights provided under American law.

Speaking on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics*, Afolabi said US authorities had already released thousands of pages but maintained that portions of the documents remained redacted because of concerns relating to law-enforcement methods, sources and agents.

He said challenging the release of the redacted portions was part of the legal options available to the president’s lawyers.

“So precisely what we are doing is going under the coverage of the law. It’s what the law gives us the right to do. It would amount to professional malpractice on our part if we don’t take advantage of what the law offers,” Afolabi said.

The lawyer also rejected claims that the US authorities were withholding the records to shield Tinubu, saying a recent filing by the US Department of Justice focused on protecting investigative methods rather than the Nigerian president.

“No mention was made of any protection being offered to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Afolabi further argued that the civil forfeiture proceeding involving approximately $460,000 should not be interpreted as a criminal conviction or a finding of criminal culpability.

The exchange has become part of a wider political battle as Tinubu prepares for a possible second-term bid and Atiku emerges as one of the leading opposition figures seeking to challenge the president in 2027.

The dispute has also opened a new front over Atiku’s record in government, following his description of the 2027 contest as a battle against “thieves”.

“We are competing with thieves. They stole the election. Now they have stolen the economy. They have stolen everything,” Atiku said in a video shared on his social media platform.

The statement has drawn criticism from two groups backing the Tinubu administration; the Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) and the Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG).

TSF, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Ahmad Sajoh, and Secretary, Danjuma Sada, questioned Atiku’s moral authority to make sweeping corruption allegations against the present administration without also accounting for controversies associated with his own years in public office.

The group particularly pointed to Atiku’s tenure as Vice-President and Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

It said questions remained over the valuation and disposal of government enterprises during the privatisation programme, while acknowledging that the Bureau of Public Enterprises was responsible for implementing the transactions.

TSF also referred to allegations previously made by former BPE Director-General, Nasir El-Rufai, before a Senate committee investigating the privatisation exercise.

The group, however, cautioned that the allegations had been contested and should not be presented as established judicial findings.

“The allegation was contested and should not be presented as a judicial finding. But it was made before a Senate investigative committee and became part of the public record,” TSF said.

The forum also raised questions concerning controversies surrounding the Petroleum Technology Development Fund during the Obasanjo administration, insisting that political leaders seeking public office should be prepared to account for their past decisions.

It said Atiku should provide evidence for his allegations against the current administration and explain how he would manage major economic challenges if elected president.

TMSG, in a separate statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, also criticised Atiku’s remarks, arguing that his record in government made the accusation difficult to sustain.

The group recalled criticisms of Atiku contained in Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch, as well as controversies raised in the United States and Nigeria concerning his finances and activities during his years in public office.

TMSG cited a 2010 US congressional report and other historical allegations concerning financial transactions involving Atiku and his then-wife, Jennifer Douglas Abubakar. It also referred to allegations concerning Siemens payments and the PTDF.

The allegations have been disputed, and Atiku has consistently denied corruption allegations against him. He has not been convicted of corruption.

TMSG also questioned aspects of the privatisation programme undertaken while Atiku chaired the National Council on Privatisation, arguing that the former vice-president should be ready to answer questions about decisions taken during his tenure.

The competing claims have added a new dimension to the emerging 2027 contest, with political actors increasingly turning attention to the records, controversies and policy positions of prospective presidential candidates.

The two sides are now seeking to frame the election around competing narratives; with the opposition questioning the performance and credibility of the Tinubu administration, while supporters of the president are demanding that Atiku and other opposition figures account for their own records before asking Nigerians for their votes.