2027: APC PCC enjoins party chieftains, spokespersons not to disrespect Atiku

…says campaign will focus on Tinubu’s achievements 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has expressed its displeasure over what it described as “the self-imposed indiscretion and disrespect for the office of the President of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief” by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Checks revealed that some APC chieftains and spokespersons for the ADC presidential candidate had been embroiled in a war of words over Atiku’s continued reference to President Bola Tinubu by his first name.

In a statement, Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said the ADC presidential candidate’s conduct in addressing the President by his first name was unbecoming of a former vice-president seeking the country’s highest political office.

The APC PCC, however, urged party faithful not to disrespect the ADC presidential candidate.

The statement assured Nigerians that the council’s campaigns would be issue-based.

The statement read: “We have followed the furore and public reactions to the self-imposed indiscretion and disrespect for the office of the President of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the ADC.

“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, we are concerned that the ADC presidential candidate has not lived up to those expectations by his unbecoming decision to address the President of Nigeria on a first-name basis as ‘Bola’.

“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.

“Alhaji Atiku, for reasons best known to him alone, chose, rather than being a good example of decency in political behaviour, to set himself up as a model of a politician the younger generation of political actors should never aspire to emulate.

“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 Alhaji Atiku Abubakar all the respect, courtesies and regard due to him as a former Vice-President of Nigeria and a 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.

“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.”