A fresh political row has broken out in Nigeria after a public exchange between former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani and Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, over the opposition’s decision to engage a United States lobbying firm to push for the release of records related to President Bola Tinubu.
The disagreement followed reports that a Washington-based lobbying firm retained by Atiku’s camp had begun circulating documents from the US Department of Justice concerning Tinubu’s past forfeiture case to officials in the Donald Trump administration, members of Congress and senior congressional aides.
Reacting on social media, Shehu Sani criticised the lobbying effort, describing it as unpatriotic and potentially harmful to Nigeria’s image abroad. He argued that taking domestic political disputes to foreign governments could weaken the country’s international standing and expose Nigerians to possible diplomatic consequences, including sanctions or visa restrictions.
Sani maintained that political competition should be resolved within Nigeria through democratic processes rather than by seeking support from foreign institutions. According to him, opposition parties should pursue power through elections and constitutional means instead of international lobbying campaigns.
Responding shortly afterwards, Paul Ibe defended the decision, insisting there was nothing improper about hiring a lobbying firm. He argued that lobbying is a legitimate practice, particularly when citizens believe democratic institutions are under pressure.
Ibe further alleged that the Tinubu administration had previously spent millions of dollars on lobbying efforts in the United States, saying the opposition’s action should not be viewed differently.
He also argued that Nigerians have a right to know the full details contained in US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ) records relating to Tinubu’s past forfeiture case, insisting that transparency is essential in a democracy.
The Atiku aide challenged supporters of the president to allow the records to be made public if there was nothing to conceal. He added that greater openness would help address lingering public questions surrounding the matter.
The exchange later became personal when Ibe reminded Shehu Sani of what he described as an unresolved issue dating back to Sani’s leadership of a Senate ad hoc committee that investigated former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. However, he did not provide further details.
The public disagreement has added another dimension to Nigeria’s increasingly heated political landscape, with both sides divided over whether international lobbying is a legitimate democratic tool or an action that could undermine the country’s global reputation.
