The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has directed its leaders, spokespersons and supporters to accord former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar the respect due to his former office, despite accusing him of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu....
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has directed its leaders, spokespersons and supporters to accord former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar the respect due to his former office, despite accusing him of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu.
The council’s position follows public reactions to Atiku’s decision to address the President as “Bola”, which the ruling party described as an affront to the office of the Commander-in-Chief.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), came under criticism from the APC in a statement issued on Monday by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.
The council said Atiku’s conduct fell short of the decorum expected of a former vice-president and a politician aspiring to lead the country.
“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.
The APC also accused the former vice-president of setting a poor example for younger politicians through what it described as unbecoming political behaviour.
However, the ruling party said it would not reciprocate what it considered disrespect, urging its leaders, members, spokespersons and support groups to extend the appropriate courtesies to Atiku as a former vice-president and presidential candidate.
“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 the APC would instead focus its campaign on issues affecting Nigerians, its policy programmes and the achievements of Tinubu’s administration as the President seeks re-election in 2027.
It said the campaign would also explain how the administration intends to move the country “from reforms to prosperity”.
The statement underscores the APC’s effort to frame the emerging political contest around its record in office, while criticising the conduct of its leading opposition challenger.
Atiku has yet to respond to the statement.