Vote Now '96

In 1996, Vote Now '96, a United States voter registration organization, received $460,000 from Gilbert Chagoury, the Lebanese-Nigerian businessman with extensive ties to Nigeria's political elite. This donation was later documented by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan research group that tracks money in American politics, as part of their investigation into Chagoury's broader pattern of political influence activities in the United States. The funding represented one element of Chagoury's systematic efforts to build political connections across American institutions.

During the 1990s, Chagoury was establishing himself as a major player in both Nigerian and international business circles, particularly during the Abacha military government period when he held significant influence in Lagos and Abuja. His strategy included building relationships with American political figures and organizations, viewing such connections as essential for protecting his business interests and navigating international sanctions that affected Nigeria during military rule. The donation to Vote Now '96 occurred during a period when Chagoury was actively cultivating American political networks.