The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) USA Chapter has publicly condemned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for what it describes as a coordinated lobbying effort in Washington aimed at discrediting President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group's president, Daniel Cosmas, issued an e-statement on Sunday, September 6, 2026, accusing Atiku and his associates of transforming a domestic political rivalry into an international embarrassment for Nigeria.
NDMG Disputes Legal Claims in 1993 Documents
Central to the group's objection is its characterization of the documents being circulated in Washington. NDMG said the 1993 US proceedings that Atiku's camp has been highlighting relate to a civil forfeiture case and have no bearing on any criminal prosecution or conviction involving Tinubu.
"The attempt to sell an old civil forfeiture proceeding as though it were a criminal conviction is a cynical distortion of history. There is a fundamental difference between a civil proceeding involving the forfeiture of money and a criminal conviction for drug trafficking. Those who understand the American legal system know this distinction, yet political operators appear determined to blur it for propaganda purposes," Cosmas said.
The group also raised concerns about the lobbyist at the centre of the campaign, saying the individual had attracted public scrutiny over his character and background, and had been identified as being of Nigerian origin. "It is astonishing that people who claim to be defending Nigeria's interests would outsource their campaign to a lobbyist whose own character and background have become subjects of public scrutiny," Cosmas added.
NDMG Urges Opposition to Fight Domestically
NDMG acknowledged that Atiku had every right to oppose Tinubu and contest the 2027 elections, but drew a firm line between legitimate opposition and seeking foreign intervention. "Democracy gives Atiku every right to oppose President Tinubu, criticise his policies and seek the support of Nigerians in 2027. What democracy does not give anyone is the right to outsource Nigeria's political contest to Washington. If the opposition has a case against Tinubu, it should present that case to Nigerians and, where appropriate, to the Nigerian courts. Lobbying American officials with recycled allegations does not make those allegations true," Cosmas said.
The group warned that the campaign carried consequences well beyond the two politicians involved. According to NDMG, repeatedly associating Nigeria's leadership with unproven criminal allegations risks reinforcing negative perceptions of Nigerians in professional, business and diplomatic circles abroad.
"Those pushing this campaign should remember that they will not be the only Nigerians answering questions when our country's reputation is dragged through the mud. There are millions of Nigerians abroad building careers, businesses and families. Their dignity should not become collateral damage in an opposition politician's presidential ambition," Cosmas said.
Trump Gives Appointment to Lobbyist Linked to Atiku
The group called on Atiku's camp to abandon what it described as the politics of international embarrassment and return the contest to issues that matter to ordinary Nigerians. NDMG urges the opposition to focus on domestic issues instead of seeking foreign intervention in Nigeria's politics.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that President Donald Trump appointed Karl Von Batten, a Nigerian-born lobbyist linked to Atiku, to a White House presidential commission on September 2, 2026. Von Batten is the managing partner of Von Batten-Montague-York, a US-based policy advisory and advocacy firm. The firm announced the appointment via its verified X page on September 3, calling it a distinguished honour.
The ongoing dispute underscores the growing tension between domestic political rivalry and international perception, with NDMG warning that the campaign could damage the reputation of millions of Nigerians living and working abroad.
