Fact-Check: Claim ADC Hired US Firm with 'Zero Revenue' Is Misleading
A recent claim that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) hired a US lobbying firm with "only one client" and "zero revenue in 2025" has been found to be misleading, according to a detailed analysis of public records. The assertion, which originated in a SaharaReporters article dated 4 April 2026, overlooks critical aspects of US lobbying disclosure systems and lacks supporting evidence for key financial figures.
Background on the Claim
The article stated that the ADC retained the US lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague York L.C. to influence the Trump administration regarding the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s suspension of recognition of the ADC leadership. It further claimed that the firm had "only one client" and "zero revenue in 2025" based on public lobbying disclosures, with declared assets of approximately $5,000.
Understanding US Lobbying Disclosure Systems
US lobbying activity is governed by two separate laws, which are crucial for accurate interpretation:
- Domestic Lobbying: Disclosed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) and tracked by databases like OpenSecrets, which compile filings from the Senate Office of Public Records. This covers lobbying for US-based clients.
- Foreign Lobbying: Disclosed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), administered by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). This applies to lobbying for foreign governments, political parties, or entities, with filings available via the DOJ's efile system and not included in LDA/OpenSecrets data.
OpenSecrets records for Von Batten-Montague-York LC show the firm was retained by one client in 2025 for a total of $0, with no other LDA activity or revenue for that year. However, this data is incomplete as it does not account for foreign-agent activities.
FARA Filings Reveal Significant Contract
Public FARA records confirm the firm's registration with the DOJ. In April 2026, it filed a FARA short-form registration and amendment for a $1.2 million, 12-month contract with former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, a foreign principal and 2027 presidential aspirant associated with the ADC. The agreement, signed in March 2026 and registered around 1 April 2026, covers:
- Government affairs and strategic advisory services
- Lobbying with Congress and the executive branch
- Perception management concerning democratic governance and US-Nigeria relations
As of 6 April 2026, no public FARA filing specifically naming the ADC as principal has been identified in DOJ records or news reports. However, the firm publicly announced on 2 April 2026 that it would brief US Congress and the Trump administration on INEC's suspension of ADC leadership recognition, framing it as an issue affecting opposition participation ahead of Nigeria's elections.
Unverified Financial Figures
The SaharaReporters article states the firm "declared assets estimated at just $5,000," but no specific public document—such as an LDA filing, FARA exhibit, or other disclosure—is linked or quoted to support this figure. Standard LDA and FARA forms report compensation received from clients and lobbying expenditures, not total firm assets or balance-sheet figures. OpenSecrets and Senate LDA records for the firm contain no such asset declaration, making this claim unsupported.
Inaccurate Characterization of ADC
The firm's public statement, quoted in the SaharaReporters article, refers to the ADC as "Nigeria's main opposition political party." This characterization is inaccurate based on parliamentary composition and electoral outcomes. Following the 2023 general elections, the National Assembly opposition is dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), which hold the largest numbers of opposition seats. The ADC, while a registered political party and part of coalitions, does not rank among the primary opposition parties by parliamentary representation or national vote share, according to previous records.
Verdict: Misleading Claim
The claim that the firm hired by the ADC has "only one client" and "zero revenue in 2025" is misleading. It is based solely on incomplete LDA data from OpenSecrets, which does not capture foreign-agent activity under FARA. Official records show the firm is FARA-registered and has secured a $1.2 million contract with a foreign principal in 2026; its 2025 LDA filings reflect zero domestic lobbying activity, consistent with a focus on foreign clients. The $5,000 assets figure is unsupported by any publicly identifiable lobbying disclosure document cited in the original report. Additionally, the description of the ADC as Nigeria's "main opposition party" is inaccurate.
This fact-check relies exclusively on publicly available official US disclosure records, including OpenSecrets LDA data and DOJ FARA filings, as well as the firm's own public statement.
