Onanuga slams NDC over missing manifesto ahead of 2027 elections

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alleging that the party has yet to present a clear manifesto or coherent governance blueprint ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, Onanuga said he had twice visited the party’s website out of curiosity to examine its policy direction and compare it with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

He claimed that despite being registered in February and recently attracting prominent political figures such as former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party does not have an accessible manifesto on its website.

“I was interested in the party’s manifesto and whether it has enunciated a markedly different vision for the governance of Nigeria, one better than President Tinubu’s and the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

According to him, attempts to download the manifesto from the party’s website were unsuccessful.

“Even though the site invited visitors to click on its manifesto to read it, the result was negative. ‘No document found’ was the response I got each time I tried to download it,” he added.

Onanuga further argued that what was available on the website were only six broad policy statements, which he described as vague and lacking depth.

“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.

A check on the NDC website reportedly shows six key policy areas including economic transformation and job creation, national security, youth development, healthcare, education reform, and governance restructuring. However, the section labelled “Our Manifesto” contains no downloadable document.

The presidential aide also called on the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, to clearly articulate the party’s vision and ideological direction.

“Senator Dickson, I look forward to your vision and mission for Nigeria, as your party appears to be the camp for the politically displaced and desperate,” Onanuga said.

The criticism comes amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, following the defection of several prominent politicians to the NDC, which has positioned itself as an alternative platform challenging the ruling APC.