Paul Ibe, spokesman for African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has rejected criticism over his principal’s decision to address President Bola Tinubu simply as Bola, arguing that no Nigerian law requires citizens to use an official title when referring to the President.
The controversy followed Atiku’s repeated reference to Tinubu by his first name while discussing issues including electricity and petrol prices.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo described Atiku’s choice of words as disrespectful and discourteous, while presidential spokesman Sunday Dare also criticized the former Vice President.
Responding in a statement posted on X, Ibe said objections to Atiku’s language were matters of personal opinion rather than law.
He referred to Section 36 of the Constitution, arguing that an act cannot become a criminal offense unless the offense and punishment are prescribed by written law.
Ibe challenged critics to identify any legislation requiring Nigerians to prefix Tinubu’s name with President, His Excellency or Mr President.
According to him, no such requirement exists.
He also invoked the constitutional protection of freedom of expression and argued that the use of first names among political leaders was not without international precedent.
Ibe said Nigerians were free to consider Atiku’s approach inappropriate or to prefer that he use the President’s official title.
But he argued that disagreement over political etiquette should not be presented as a legal offense.
The spokesman said greater attention should instead be paid to the economic and political issues raised by Atiku in his Independence Anniversary address.
The dispute reflects the increasingly combative tone surrounding Nigeria’s emerging 2027 presidential contest, where even the language used by leading political figures is becoming part of the wider political confrontation.
