Millions of dollars in contracts held by U.S. strategists could be in jeopardy after a historic presidential election in Nigeria that marked the first time a sitting president had been defeated.

The change in leadership, from President Goodluck Jonathan to former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, could be trouble for at least four firms with lucrative arrangements from the West African nation.

Levick, Squire Patton Boggs, Mercury and Weber Shandwick each have contracts worth a minimum of six figures per year with the Nigerian government.


“It's not unusual for governments — whether foreign governments or even U.S. state or territorial governments — to switch lobbying firms after an election because the new government wants to have its own loyal troops in the field,” said Robert Kelner, the chairman of law and lobby firm Covington & Burling’s election and political law practice.
In total, the country spent about $4.41 million on lobbying and PR last year from U.S. firms, according to a review of forms filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

The most recent contract — inked with Levick last June — resulted in more than $1.64 million in payments during the last six months of 2014, according to filings with the DOJ.

The firm was retained, in part, to help improve Jonathan’s image and combat the notion that he was not doing enough to find and rescue schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists.

Levick also subcontracted with Jared Genser, a human rights lawyer who has primarily represented political prisoners, to help advise the government about making “real change” in the country ahead of the important elections this month.

The firm declined to comment for this article.

Ultimately, Jonathan fell about 2 million votes short in his bid to remain leader of Africa’s most populous nation, home to roughly 180 million people. The loss was attributed to economic inequality, corruption and the growing threat of Boko Haram.

Mercury, which has worked with the Nigerian government since 2013, had been hired to “enhance bilateral diplomatic, economic, and security relations between the U.S. and Nigeria,” according to disclosure forms. Last year, the firm earned $975,165 from the contract, which includes work by former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.).

It said it would arrange meetings with members of Congress and the Obama administration about Nigeria and with Nigerian officials and “business and thought leaders.”

Mercury did not respond to a request for comment.

Nigeria had been under military rule until 1999, including once by Buhari, who was both installed and ousted by coups in the country. Since moving to democracy, it has largely been run by the People's Democratic Party.

The transfer of power between Jonathan, a Christian member of the People's Democratic Party, and Buhari, a Muslim member of the All Progressives Congress, is a historic one. President Obama on Wednesday commended the two leaders for encouraging a peaceful vote and transfer of power.

Buhari has promised to root out corruption and defeat Boko Haram, which has a growing foothold in northern Nigeria.

“Your vote affirms that you believe Nigeria's future can be better than what it is today,” he said on Tuesday in his statement proclaiming victory. “You voted for change, and now change has come.”

Kenneth Gross, who leads the political law practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, said that a regime change doesn’t necessarily mean doom for firms that have contracts with Nigeria.

“If they have the appropriate connections with the U.S. government, they may well stay on,” he said, adding that a power shift “could present some new opportunities” for other firms to jump in on the action.

Weber Shandwick was contracted to do public relations work for Nigeria in the United States and the United Kingdom, including creating and maintaining a website to promote Nigeria’s Transformation Agenda. It was given a $617,000 budget for its services and subcontracted some work to another D.C. lobby firm, Cassidy & Associates.

“We have not yet had any discussion with our client in Nigeria, the National Orientation Agency, on the status of our work on their behalf,” a spokeswoman for Weber Shandwick told The Hill in an email.

Squire Patton Boggs, which boasts a deep bench of former officials, made more than $1.17 million representing the Office of National Security Advisor of Nigeria. In the past, the firm had represented the government more broadly.

The contract, signed in 2013, asked for a $3 million budget per year to “advise the [client] on security and defense issues,” according to documents. Last year, it sent letters and emails to State Department officials and Senate offices regarding bilateral relations, Boko Haram and a U.S. visit from the client.

Foreign lobbyists may choose to cut ties with countries — or vice versa — following a change in leadership, but it’s not a certainty.

For example, a 2006 coup in Thailand resulted in the country cutting loose at least one lobby firm. In 2012, during the “Arab Spring” in Egypt, the country parted ways with a group of high-powered lobbyists that had advocated on its behalf.

Called PLM Group, the coalition contained the Livingston Group, run by former Rep. Robert Livingston (R-La.); the Moffett Group, run by former Rep. Toby Moffett (D-Conn.); and the Podesta Group, owned by super-lobbyist Tony Podesta.

Media reports from the time feature Egyptian embassy claims that it fired the lobbyists, and counter-claims from the lobbyists, who said they made the choice to terminate Egypt as a client.

When India underwent a massive change in 2014, however, electing Narendra Modi as its prime minister, the government kept its key U.S. lobby firms: Podesta Group and BGR Government Affairs.

The Nigeria contracts are “up in the air,” said one lobbyist at a top firm familiar with courting foreign work, asking for anonymity. “And anybody who tells you, ‘For sure we're going to keep this' — [they] don't really know.”


http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/237823-nigerian-power-shift-leaves-k-st-contracts-in-limbo

The outgoing Administration was more concerned about its foreign image than delivering dividend of DEMOCRATIC governance to its People

A government willing and ready to spend billions of Naira to launder its image to the western world than deliver on its responsibility to its people does not deserve to be in power.

I am so happy that despite their brazen attempt at usurping the powers and desire of the people by inflating VOTES in some South South and South East states the will and desire of God prevailed in Nigeria.

There will so many revelation that Buhari himself will be forced to eat his words and will need to probe the thieving and corrupt CABAL Nigerians just booted out

Despite bringing all these guys on board to shore up the presidency's image, absolutely nothing was achieved by them.

They didn't understand that with bad ingredients, even the best cook in the world can't make you a tasty soup.

omenka:
Despite bringing all these guys on board to shore up the presidency's image, absolutely nothing was achieved by them.

They didn't understand that with bad ingredients, even the best cook in the world can't make you a tasty soup.

Nigerians decided since 2012 to boot out the CLUELESS government. The highlight for me was when a NAIRALANDER posted a pix of a FOWL ALONGSIDE THAT OF GEJ and asked PEOPLE choose between the two for presidency and I was overwhelmed that the Fowl had more likes than GEJ and I knew the CHANGE momentum was irreversible.

If not for their manipulation in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Enugu, Delta, Cross-rivers et al he wont even have up to 5million votes.

#neveragain will Nigeria be ruled by a CABAL who felt they are SUPERMEN and above the LAW. Imagine what they would have done to Amaechi, Tinubu, Okorocha, Atiku and others if PDP had won.

God indeed worked in a miraculous way

Hmmm u can't believe this. More goodness are coming joor

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Waiting for more revelation over wastages and other unjustified spendings embarked upon by the outgoing government.

May 29 2015 is SACROSANCT.

From the tone of the article, there is absoultely nothing abnormal about those contracts.
They even cited examples of other countries that have contracts with such firms.
Even APC signed a contract with one of such firms to help them co-ordinate their campaign.

Collynzo9:
From the tone of the article, there is absoultely nothing abnormal about those contracts.
They even cited examples of other countries that have contracts with such firms.
Even APC signed a contract with one of such firms to help them co-ordinate their campaign.

Did you read and decipher what the article is all about or youre just blinded by your hatred for the APC.

Is the article about a campaign strategy or wasting Money on foreign lobbying companies to sell an unpopular government to the foreign government and media.

Was the money spent by PDP or the FG?

What a waste of our money. Money that could have been used to better the lives of Nigerians. God really answered our prayers by making GEJ lose.

MEILYN:
What a waste of our money. Money that could have been used to better the lives of Nigerians. God really answered our prayers by making GEJ lose.

The stupid baga was more concerned about what and how Obama and the western world feel about him than bettering the lives of people he governs.