US firm accuses Tinubu administration of celebrating ‘arranged’ judgment against ADC, targets Keyamo
MAIN POINT:
*Von Batten-Montague-York says it will present Aviation Minister’s post to Trump administration, US Congress as alleged evidence of election interference
*APC should learn that Nigeria not its property, Former Minister reacts to court ruling
By KEMI KASUMU
The firm described the minister’s reaction as troubling, alleging that the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 5, 2026, had been arranged to eliminate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s major political rival ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has criticised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), over his public celebration of Thursday’s controversial Federal High Court judgment affecting the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The firm described the minister’s reaction as troubling, alleging that the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 5, 2026, had been arranged to eliminate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s major political rival ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday, the US firm accused officials of the Tinubu administration of openly celebrating a court decision that, according to its allegation, could weaken the opposition and undermine electoral competition.
“Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s (@officialABAT) agents and officials are truly the gift that keeps on giving. The Nigerian Presidency is openly celebrating a court ruling that reportedly indicates they arranged to eliminate current Nigerian President Tinubu’s main rival in the upcoming Nigerian presidential election,” the firm stated.
It specifically announced plans to present Keyamo’s reaction to members of the administration of US President Donald Trump and the US Congress, arguing that the minister’s involvement raised questions about the government’s attitude towards electoral integrity.
“We are going to be presenting the @X post of @fkeyamo, President Tinubu’s Minister of Aviation, whose government portfolio has nothing to do with elections or electoral integrity, openly celebrating what a senior congressional staffer described as an ‘open display of election interference by the Nigerian government,’ to members of the @realDonaldTrump administration and Congress,” the statement added.
The lobbying firm further predicted that the judgment and Keyamo’s public reaction could become a defining moment in the political fortunes of the Tinubu administration.
“We have a prediction for current Nigerian President Tinubu: In a few months, you are going to look at this court ruling and @fkeyamo’s post as the defining moment when the rope the United States has been giving you to figuratively hang yourself finally became the instrument of your own political downfall,” it declared.
Keyamo had earlier taken to his X handle to react to the judgment, expressing satisfaction with the court’s decision and insisting that justice had prevailed.
“Justice may be slow, but it is always SURE!” the minister wrote.
He accused the ADC leadership associated with former Senate President David Mark of attempting to take over a political party through what he described as an unlawful process, arguing that such actions could not be justified by blaming the ruling APC.
Keyamo, an APC chieftain, was caught leading the ADC fight from the office of Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying, “You cannot invade a political Party owned and built by Nigerians, hijack it with the connivance of a so-called National Chairman without a PRIOR meeting and approval of a mini National Convention or the National Executive Committee and hope to bluff your way out of such a brazen act by blaming and blackmailing the ruling Party for a misfortune deliberately stocked by you.”
The minister further argued that the law should be determined by facts and evidence rather than political sentiments and public outrage.
“Sorry, but the law is decided on facts and evidence, rather than sentiments and outrage by a group of people,” he added.
Keyamo also rejected the suggestion that the political crisis within the ADC should be interpreted as a threat to democracy simply because former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was involved.
“It is not only when a certain ATIKU ABUBAKAR contest the Presidency that democracy is not in danger. The ADC as a Party is well and alive and populated by people and original leaders who are NO LESS Nigerians than a David Mark and his illegal band of marauders,” he said.
The minister’s comments have attracted criticism from the US lobbying firm, which considers his public reaction particularly significant because of his position in the federal cabinet and the international implications of perceived government involvement in electoral disputes.
The ADC has rejected the judgment, with members of its campaign leadership describing it as an attempt to reopen a leadership dispute they insist had already been judicially addressed.
The party has also indicated its intention to challenge the ruling.
The controversy has consequently widened beyond the immediate dispute over the ADC’s leadership, raising fresh questions about the relationship between the ruling government, opposition politics, judicial independence and the credibility of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
However, the lobbying firm’s allegation that the judgment was arranged to eliminate Atiku Abubakar as a political rival remains an allegation and has not been independently established.
Nigeria not APC’s property
In the meantime, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, has described Thursday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu as a speech without foundation.
“A speech without foundation is noise, stainless steel plate,” he said, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) must learn to know that Nigeria is not its property.
