The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his reported decision to address President Bola Tinubu simply as “Bola”, describing the move as disrespectful to the office of the President.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, and signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, the council expressed concern over the public reactions to Atiku’s manner of referring to Tinubu, insisting that a former vice president and presidential aspirant should demonstrate greater decorum in political engagements.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has come under criticism from the APC campaign council over what it described as an act of indiscretion and disregard for the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The council argued that Atiku’s status as a former vice president and his ambition to occupy the highest political office in the country placed a responsibility on him to uphold standards of conduct expected of senior political figures.
“While a higher standard of decorum, decency and deference to constituted authorities is expected from a former Vice President of Nigeria and an aspirant to the highest office in the country,” the statement said, “we are concerned that the ADC Presidential candidate has not lived up to those expectations.”
The APC council further accused Atiku of allowing political rivalry and personal ambition to influence his public conduct since losing the 2023 presidential election.
It alleged that the former vice president had failed to demonstrate the statesmanship expected of a political leader of his standing, adding that his conduct could set an undesirable example for younger politicians.
The council, however, urged its own leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups not to respond in kind, despite its criticism of Atiku.
According to Alake, the APC campaign organisation has directed its members to continue treating Atiku with the respect and courtesies due to him as a former vice president and presidential candidate.
“Without any regard to his personal choice to disrespect the office he is aspiring to occupy, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has implored all party leaders, spokespersons, party members and support groups to accord all the respect, courtesies and regard due to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as former Vice President of Nigeria and a Presidential candidate,” the statement read.
The council said its position was consistent with the party’s professed commitment to progressive ideals and African traditional values, which it said emphasised respect for constituted authority and political opponents.
It declared that the APC campaign would not adopt what it characterised as Atiku’s approach to political discourse, insisting that its engagement with the opposition would remain focused on policy issues and the administration’s record.
“As a party grounded in progressive ideals and African traditional values of respect, our campaign council will not follow Alhaji Atiku’s path,” Alake said.
The statement also outlined the council’s proposed direction for the 2027 presidential campaign, saying it would concentrate on communicating the Tinubu administration’s achievements, its policy programmes and its economic reform agenda.
The APC campaign council said it intended to present the administration’s policies as a transition from economic reforms to broader prosperity as Tinubu seeks a second term in office.
“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,” the statement added.
The controversy comes as political parties and their prospective candidates position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with public statements and exchanges increasingly becoming part of the emerging campaign narrative.
Neither the APC council’s statement nor the controversy described in it establishes the full context in which Atiku referred to the President as “Bola”. The council’s characterisation of the remark as disrespectful represents its position in the political dispute.