Ayisha Osori: dumps PDP for APC

It was a different kind of defection in Nigeria’s season of cross carpeting by politicians.

A woman and gender advocate, eyeing one of the House of Representatives seats in the Nigerian capital of Abuja has blazed a trail, by first winning the ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party after a primary was conducted.

Then she threw the ticket on the party’s face and crossed the lane to join the All Progressives Congress.

Ms Ayisha Osori, a lawyer, made the unusual move today as she denounced the PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) after emerging winner under the PDP.

Osori made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the APC national secretariat.

Osori emerged winner at the just concluded AMAC/Bwari federal constituency primary in the Federal Capital Territory.

Osori, who was presented with the membership card of the APC, told newsmen she decided to carpet-cross after watching the APC primary because she believed in Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who was her lecturer in the 90s at the University of Lagos.

“I decided to denounce membership after watching the APC conduct its presidential primary in a fair and competitive manner and after seeing the combination of Osinbajo and Buhari, both men of integrity.

“Osinbajo used to teach me at the University of Lagos, Faculty of Law, I believe that is a great combination that would move the country forward and I want to be part of that team,’’ she said.

Ayisha Osori: says she believes in APC

According to her, the APC slogan `Change’ is enough reason to support the party as she was sure of winning the on the platform of APC.

Osori noted that more than 70 per cent of Nigerians were youths who wanted the change that “APC represents’’.

On what her contribution would be to ensure the success of the APC at the general elections, Osori, who is the CEO of the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund, cited experience.

“The years of experience I garnered in the private sector as a lawyer and also as writer, first with Thisday and later with Leadership newspapers will be of value to APC.

Reacting to the defection, the APC National Secretary, Mai-Mala Buni, who presented the membership card to Osori, expressed delight because his party was waxing stronger by the day.

“Such event will be a continuous thing. Our doors are open. Everybody, who is ready to join the party, is welcome anytime, any day,’’ he said.

Ms. Osori is a graduate of law from the University of Lagos and Harvard Law School and most recently graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Masters in Public Administration.

She was called to the Nigerian and New York State bars in 1998 and 2000 respectively.

Osori now runs Nigerian Women Trust Fund in Abuja. On the NGO’s website, she is described as consultant with over 12 years experience in ‘corporate and regulatory practice, change communications and gender advocacy.”

“She has worked in the oil and gas sector, financial services and FMCG sector. Most recently she was the lead consultant and national co-ordinator for the World Bank DFID Gender Dialogue Sessions. She is the founder of Advocates for Change & Social Justice. She currently writes a weekly column for Leadership newspaper called ‘Nigerian Citizen’ where she covers social issues ranging from security and good governance to politics and values.”

*Corringendum: NAN re-issued this story on Ayisha Osoro on Wednesday 31 December of now claiming that Ayisha joined the APC after losing the PDP primary election for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in Abuja.