The spokesman for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed criticism of the opposition candidate’s repeated reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by his first name, insisting that no Nigerian law makes the practice an offence.
Paul Ibe, who speaks for Atiku as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, said in a post on X on Friday that Section 36(12) of the Constitution requires any offence and its punishment to be clearly set out in written law. “Anyone claiming Atiku committed an offence should produce the law that says Nigerians must always prefix Bola Tinubu’s name with ‘President,’ ‘His Excellency’ or ‘Mr. President,’” Ibe stated. “There is no such law.”
The defence follows Atiku’s use of the name “Bola” while discussing the cost of petrol and electricity. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo described the references as “very disrespectful and discourteous.” Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare also criticised the former vice president’s choice of address.
Ibe argued that first-name usage among political leaders is not unusual, pointing to former United States President Barack Obama’s public references to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel as “Angela” at official events. He further invoked Section 39 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.
“People may debate Atiku’s style. They may say they would have preferred ‘President Tinubu’. That is their opinion,” Ibe said. “But let us not invent an offence where none exists. Bola is his name. President is his office.”
He urged attention to shift to the substantive issues Atiku raised in his Independence Anniversary address rather than the form of address used for the president.
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