By Augustine Akhilomen
The Presidency, on Friday, mocked the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over what it described as the party’s alleged failure to present a clear manifesto or governance agenda to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, questioned the ideological direction of the party, saying attempts to access its manifesto on the party’s website yielded no result.
In a post on his X handle, Onanuga said he had twice searched the NDC website in recent days out of curiosity to understand the party’s vision for Nigeria and whether it had articulated an alternative to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the search ended unsuccessfully each time, with the website returning a “No document found” response when he attempted to download the manifesto.
“Like ADC, the NDC has no plan for Nigeria yet,” Onanuga wrote. He said despite claims by the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, that the party would pursue an ideological battle in the 2027 elections, the NDC had yet to upload any manifesto since its registration in February.
Onanuga said the only policy direction visible on the website consisted of six “policy nuggets” presented as pillars, but argued that they did not amount to a coherent governance blueprint.
“However, the nuggets don’t read like pillars. They sound more like the platitudes the party’s newest catch, Peter Obi, has bombarded the nation with in the last six years,” he stated.
The presidential aide also took a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, describing them as political figures seeking refuge in the party after allegedly abandoning the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Addressing Dickson directly, Onanuga said he was looking forward to seeing the NDC’s “vision and mission for Nigeria,” adding that the party currently appeared to be “the camp for the politically displaced and desperate.”