The Presidency on Friday criticized the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing the party of lacking a clear vision and concrete plan for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The attack was directed at former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who were described by the Presidency as politicians without a clear political direction.
The criticism came from presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Onanuga said the NDC had failed to provide Nigerians with a manifesto or detailed policy direction despite ongoing political discussions ahead of the next general elections.
According to him, he visited the party’s website on two occasions to review its manifesto and compare its vision with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, he claimed that attempts to access the manifesto were unsuccessful.
“Like ADC, the NDC has no plan for Nigeria yet,” Onanuga wrote.
“Out of sheer curiosity, I have twice in the last few days googled the website of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the party that the political wanderer Peter Obi and his ally, Rabiu Kwankwaso, sought shelter in after abandoning the ADC midstream.”
He added that he expected to see a policy document presenting a vision different from that of the current administration but was disappointed by what he found.
“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.
“I was disappointed. 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.”
The latest comments from the Presidency have added to the growing political exchanges already taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although the next presidential election is still more than a year away, political realignments, coalition talks and public criticisms among parties have continued to dominate discussions within Nigeria’s political space.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has recently attracted public attention following reports linking Obi and Kwankwaso with the platform after disagreements and uncertainty surrounding opposition coalition efforts.
Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, remains one of Nigeria’s most popular opposition figures, especially among young voters and urban supporters.
Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya political movement and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, also commands significant political influence, particularly in Kano State and parts of Northern Nigeria.
Both politicians have repeatedly called for better governance, economic reforms and stronger democratic institutions in Nigeria.
However, the Presidency appears determined to challenge the credibility and preparedness of opposition figures ahead of future elections.
The mention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Onanuga’s statement also points to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding opposition coalition discussions.
In recent months, several opposition politicians and groups have reportedly explored alliances aimed at presenting a stronger challenge to the ruling APC in future elections.
The APC, on the other hand, has continued to defend the policies of the Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic reforms, infrastructure development, security and social welfare programmes.
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has introduced several major economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market.
While government officials argue that the reforms are necessary to stabilise the economy, critics say the policies have worsened hardship for many Nigerians due to rising inflation, high fuel prices and increased cost of living.
The Presidency has repeatedly defended the reforms, insisting that they are part of long-term efforts to rebuild the economy.
Supporters of the administration argue that opposition parties should provide clear alternatives rather than mere criticism.
However, opposition figures have continued to accuse the APC government of poor economic management and failing to address insecurity and poverty.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had officially responded to Onanuga’s remarks.
The NDC also had not issued any statement addressing the claims about the absence of a manifesto on its website.
However, supporters of both politicians have already reacted online, with some accusing the Presidency of focusing on political attacks instead of addressing the country’s economic challenges.
Others defended the government, arguing that political parties seeking to govern Nigeria must present clear programs and policies to voters.
With political activities gradually building up ahead of the next election cycle, the public expects more confrontations, alliances, and debates among Nigeria’s major political figures in the coming months.