Presidency Slams Dickson’s NDC: ‘No manifesto, no plan’

Bayo Onanuga, Senior Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has lambasted the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for its lack of a manifesto and clear direction for Nigeria’s future.

In a statement on Friday, Onanuga accused the NDC of being a political refuge for the “displaced and desperate,” and criticized its failure to present a coherent vision ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Ike ADC, the NDC has no plan for Nigeria yet,” Onanuga said, referring to the NDC’s lack of tangible proposals for governance. His comments come in the wake of the party’s recent surge in popularity, largely fueled by high-profile defections, including that of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, both former leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Driven by curiosity, Onanuga said he visited the NDC’s website twice, hoping to find a manifesto that would distinguish the party from President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. However, he was met with repeated disappointment, as the website returned the message: “No document found” each time he attempted to access the manifesto.

Despite claims by NDC national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, that the party is preparing for an “ideological battle” in 2027, Onanuga pointed out that the party has failed to upload any manifesto since its registration in February. Instead, it presents “six policy nuggets,” which Onanuga dismissed as nothing more than “platitudes” similar to the empty rhetoric from Peter Obi that has dominated public discourse in recent years.

“Senator Dickson, I look forward to your vision and mission for Nigeria,” Onanuga added, underscoring his skepticism about the NDC’s readiness to offer any real alternative. “As it stands, your party appears to be a camp for the politically displaced and desperate.”