Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Fresh political exchanges have erupted between the Presidency and the emerging Nigeria Democratic Congress following claims by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga that the party lacks a clear manifesto and national development plan.
Onanuga, who serves as Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, criticised the NDC in a statement released on Friday, describing the opposition platform as “a camp for the politically displaced and desperate.”
The presidential spokesman said he had visited the party’s official website in search of its manifesto and policy direction but claimed no downloadable document was available. According to him, repeated attempts to access the manifesto produced the message “No document found.”
Onanuga questioned whether the NDC had developed a governance blueprint capable of presenting an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The remarks came amid rising national attention surrounding the NDC after former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso reportedly joined the party following their exit from the African Democratic Congress.
Political observers say the movement of influential opposition figures into the NDC has increased speculation about possible coalition efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In his statement, Onanuga argued that although the NDC website displayed six broad policy areas, the contents lacked detailed direction and appeared similar to themes repeatedly promoted by Peter Obi in recent years.
Checks conducted by several media organisations showed that the NDC website indeed contained headings outlining policy priorities such as economic transformation, security, healthcare, youth development, education reform and governance restructuring. However, the section labelled “Our Manifesto” reportedly contained no downloadable policy document at the time of inspection.
Onanuga also challenged former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, who has emerged as a leading figure within the NDC, to publicly unveil the party’s ideological direction and vision for Nigeria.
The political exchange reflects growing early maneuvering ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition realignments already beginning to reshape the national political landscape less than three years into the Tinubu administration.
The NDC has recently gained prominence following internal crises affecting several opposition parties, including the Labour Party and the African Democratic Congress. Analysts believe the party is attempting to position itself as a broader coalition platform capable of attracting dissatisfied politicians and voters from multiple political blocs.
While the Presidency has questioned the party’s readiness and ideological clarity, supporters of the NDC insist the movement represents a growing alternative force aimed at challenging the APC’s hold on power in the next electoral cycle.
As of the time of filing this report, the NDC had not released an official response directly addressing Onanuga’s criticism regarding the alleged absence of an accessible manifesto on the party’s website.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments