The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has reaffirmed its commitment to an issues-based campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election, declaring that its spokespersons will not engage in what it described as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s disrespectful approach to political discourse. The Council said its campaign would concentrate on programmes and policies that matter to Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s achievements in office, and the administration’s efforts to move the country from reforms to prosperity as the President seeks a second-term mandate.
In a statement titled “Public Concerns Over Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Indiscretion and Disregard for President Tinubu,” the Council’s Spokesperson, Mr Dele Alake, expressed concern over what he described as the former Vice President’s disregard for the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Alake said the Council had followed the controversy and public reactions generated by Atiku’s conduct, particularly his decision to address President Tinubu by his first name, “Bola”, rather than accord him the courtesies associated with his office.
“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.” He maintained that a former Vice President seeking the country’s highest political office should demonstrate greater restraint, decorum and respect for constituted authority, irrespective of political differences.
“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’.”
The APC campaign spokesperson further accused Atiku of allowing political rivalry and his presidential ambition to undermine the statesmanship expected of an individual who previously occupied the country’s second-highest political office. “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.”
Alake also criticised what he described as the former Vice President’s failure to demonstrate exemplary political conduct worthy of emulation by younger generations of political actors. “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 politician the younger generation of political actors should never aspire to be like.”
Despite these criticisms, Mr Alake disclosed that the APC Presidential Campaign Council had directed its leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to maintain respect for Alhaji Atiku’s status as a former Vice President and presidential candidate. He emphasised that the Council would not adopt the approach it had criticised, insisting that the party’s progressive principles and African traditional values placed a responsibility on its members to uphold respect and courtesy in political engagements.
“As a party grounded in progressive ideals and African traditional values of respect, our campaign council will not follow Alhaji Atiku’s path.” Mr Alake reiterated that the Council’s priority would remain communicating the APC’s programmes, highlighting President Tinubu’s record in office and explaining how the administration intends to build on its reforms to deliver prosperity to Nigerians if granted another mandate in 2027.
