The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has urged its leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to maintain decorum and show respect to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, despite accusing him of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu.
The council said it would not follow what it described as Atiku’s disregard for presidential protocol, following public reactions to the former vice president’s decision to address Tinubu by his first name, “Bola”.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, and signed by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, the party said Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had failed to demonstrate the level of statesmanship expected of a former vice president and presidential aspirant.
The council accused Atiku of allowing political animosity and ambition to influence his public conduct and utterances since losing the last presidential election.
It said Atiku’s conduct was not a model of decent political behaviour for younger generations of politicians to emulate.
However, the APC council urged its members and supporters to accord Atiku the respect and courtesies due to him as a former vice president and presidential candidate, regardless of his personal conduct.
“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 said.
The council added that its campaign would focus on issues affecting Nigerians, the party’s programmes and Tinubu’s achievements in office.
It said the campaign would also highlight how the Tinubu administration was moving the country “from reforms to prosperity” as the president seeks a second-term mandate from Nigerians.
