Trump names Atiku's lobbyist Karl Von Batten as White House commissioner
US President Donald Trump has appointed Dr. Karl Von Batten, managing partner of the Washington‑based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., as a commissioner on a White House presidential commission. The firm announced the appointment on X on September 3, 2026, quoting Von Batten's gratitude for the honor and Trump's confidence in him.
Von Batten's firm has been retained by Nigerian politician Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, since March 2026 under a 12-month contract worth $1.2 million. Atiku hired the lobbyist ahead of the 2027 election cycle, raising questions about foreign influence on domestic politics.
The appointment places a key adviser to a major Nigerian opposition figure inside an official US advisory body. It highlights how Nigerian political actors engage American lobbying firms to shape their campaigns and policy outreach. What does this mean for Nigeria's 2027 elections, and should voters be concerned about the role of foreign-hired lobbyists in shaping local political narratives?