By BONIFACE AKARAH

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for addressing President Bola Tinubu by his first name, describing the action as disrespectful to the office of the President.

The council made Its position known in a press statement dated October 12, 2026, signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, following public reactions to Atiku’s manner of addressing Tinubu.

The APC campaign council said it expected a former vice president and presidential aspirant to demonstrate a higher level of decorum and respect for constituted authority.

It expressed concern that Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had fallen short of that expectation by referring to the President simply as “Bola”.

The council also accused the former vice president of allowing political differences and ambition to influence his public conduct since losing the last presidential election.

“Since Alhaji Atiku lost the last Presidential election, he has allowed political animosity and uncontrollable ambition to rob him of the statesmanship that should guide his public conduct and utterances,” the statement said.

Despite its criticism of Atiku, the APC campaign council said it had urged party leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to continue according the former vice president the respect associated with his former office and status as a presidential candidate.

It said the party would not adopt what it described as Atiku’s approach to political engagement.

“As a party grounded in progressive ideals and African traditional values of respect, our campaign council will not follow Alhaji Atiku’s path,” the statement added.

The council said its campaign would instead focus on issues affecting Nigerians, the APC’s programmes and the Tinubu administration’s record as the President seeks a second-term mandate.

“Our campaign will focus on issues important to Nigerians. We will sell our party programmes, President Bola Tinubu’s achievements in office, and how the administration is moving Nigeria from reforms to prosperity as the President seeks a second-term mandate from Nigerians,” Alake stated.

The statement did not specify the occasion on which Atiku addressed Tinubu as “Bola” or reproduce the full remarks that triggered the controversy.