Presidential aide dismisses emerging opposition platform as “a camp for the desperate,” questions absence of manifesto despite high-profile defections

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has taken a swipe at Seriake Dickson, former governor of Bayelsa State, insisting that his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has no credible plan for the country.

In a statement issued on Friday, Onanuga dismissed the NDC as “a camp for the politically displaced and desperate,” questioning the party’s readiness to present a viable alternative ahead of future elections.

His remarks come as the NDC gains attention following the recent defection of key political figures, including Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Onanuga argued that the NDC is no different from the ADC, maintaining that both platforms lack a clear and distinct governance blueprint for Nigeria.

“Like the ADC, the NDC has no plan for Nigeria yet,” he said.

The presidential aide revealed that he had twice visited the party’s official website in recent days in search of its manifesto, hoping to find a vision that contrasts with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

However, he said his efforts yielded no result.

“Each time I tried to download the manifesto, the response was ‘No document found,’” he stated, expressing disappointment over the absence of a clearly articulated policy framework.

Onanuga further criticised the party for failing to upload its manifesto months after its registration in February, despite claims by its national leader, Seriake Dickson, that the NDC would champion an ideological contest in the 2027 elections.

Instead, he noted that the party’s website only features six policy “nuggets,” which he argued fall short of a comprehensive agenda.

According to him, the so-called pillars read more like vague talking points than concrete policy proposals, adding that they resemble the “platitudes” often associated with Peter Obi’s public messaging in recent years.

Despite his criticism, Onanuga said he remains open to seeing a clearer articulation of the party’s vision and mission for Nigeria in the future.