APC Tells Members to Respect Atiku Despite Criticism Over Calling Tinubu ‘Bola’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has urged its leaders, members and support groups to accord former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar the respect and courtesies befitting his former office and status as a presidential candidate, despite accusing him of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu.

The directive followed public reactions to Atiku’s decision to address the President simply as “Bola”, which the APC council described as a breach of decorum unbecoming of a former vice-president and presidential aspirant.

In a statement issued on Monday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, urged party leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to maintain civility in their dealings with Atiku, regardless of their disagreement with his conduct.

“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 said.

The council faulted Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, for what it described as a lack of decorum in the way he addressed Tinubu.

It further accused the former vice-president of allowing political animosity and personal ambition to shape his public conduct since his defeat in the 2023 presidential election.

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Despite its criticism, the APC council said it would not adopt what it characterised as Atiku’s approach to political engagement, insisting that its members should maintain respect for political opponents.

The council also said its campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election would focus on issues affecting Nigerians, the party’s programmes, Tinubu’s record in office and what it described as the administration’s efforts to move the country from reforms to prosperity.