Tinubu's associate ridicules NDC for misplaced policy document and absence of strategic proposals

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress, saying the party has yet to present a clear vision or manifesto for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Onanuga, in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, said he had twice searched the party’s website out of curiosity to review its manifesto and governance plans.

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According to him, the party, which he said recently became a platform for former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, had no accessible manifesto on its website.

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“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,” Onanuga stated.

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He said attempts to download the manifesto from the party’s website were unsuccessful.

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“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 the manifesto,” he said.

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Onanuga further alleged that despite being registered in February, the party had yet to upload a manifesto and only displayed six policy “nuggets” described as pillars.

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“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 added.

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Checks by PUNCH Online on the NDC website on Friday night showed that the party’s homepage contains six core policy pillars of the party focusing on “Economic Transformation and Job Creation,” “National Security and Stability,” “Youth Development and Innovation,” “Healthcare and Social Protection,” “Education Reform,” and “Governance and Institutional Reform.”

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However, while the website has a page titled “Our Manifesto,” which reads “Download our policy documents and discover our plans for building a better Nigeria,” the page contains no downloadable content and no visible policy document.

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The presidential aide also called on the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, to unveil the party’s vision and mission for Nigeria.

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“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,” he stated.

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The comments come days after Obi and Kwankwaso joined the NDC after leaving the African Democratic Congress.

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Dickson has positioned the party as ready for an “ideological battle” in 2027 against the ruling All Progressives Congress.

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