Social commentator and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain Aisha Yesufu has explained why she supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election, saying she does not regret the decision.
Yesufu disclosed that her decision was largely influenced by Yemi Osinbajo, who was the APC’s vice-presidential candidate and running mate to Muhammadu Buhari in the election.
According to her, Osinbajo was the major reason she backed the APC ticket despite her reservations about Buhari, whom she had previously vowed not to support following the violence surrounding the 2011 elections.
“The reason I voted for APC in 2015 was because of Prof. Osinbajo,” Yesufu said.
She explained that it took her until February to fully come to terms with having voted for Buhari, describing her choice as one driven by her expectations of Osinbajo’s role in the administration.
Yesufu, however, later became critical of the Buhari administration and Osinbajo’s performance as vice president. She argued that the constitutional role of a vice president limits the office holder’s ability to independently determine the direction of government.
“Gen Buhari is known to never work but to delegate, yet Osinbajo became a toothless collaborator,” she said in an earlier explanation of her position.
Her latest comments are significant because Yesufu has since become one of the prominent voices associated with Peter Obi and opposition politics. Her explanation provides insight into how political expectations and individual candidates can influence voters’ decisions beyond party loyalty.
The 2015 election marked a major turning point in Nigeria’s democratic history, with Buhari defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. The APC victory also brought together several opposition political groups under one platform and ended the PDP’s 16-year hold on the presidency.
Yesufu’s account has therefore renewed discussion about political choices, voter expectations and how politicians’ performances can shape public support in subsequent elections.
