No Law Stops Atiku from Addressing Tinubu By First Name, Says VP’s Aide

Paul Ibe, spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has defended Atiku's decision to refer to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu simply as "Bola," stating that no Nigerian law prohibits such a reference. In a post on X, Ibe argued that criticism of Atiku's choice of words cannot be turned into a criminal offence, citing Section 36(12) of the Constitution, which requires offences and punishments to be prescribed by written law. He challenged anyone claiming Atiku committed an offence to produce the law that mandates prefixing Tinubu's name with titles such as 'President,' 'His Excellency,' or 'Mr. President.' The statement followed criticism of Atiku after he repeatedly referred to Tinubu as "Bola" while discussing issues including the cost of petrol and electricity.

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