An APC leader in Kogi State, Ustaz Abdalla Yusuf has questioned the selection of Hon. Tijjani Ebaiya as the party’s consensus candidate for the Lokoja Constituency 1 for the State House of Assembly election.

Yusuf said that he believes that Ebaiya, incumbent Assembly member, may face challenges with voters and that the decision could affect the party’s prospects in the coming election.

“From my assessment, Ebaiya would have a difficult time being reelected to the Assembly. I think APC’s chances in Lokoja Constituency 1 would be higher with a different candidate,” Yusuf said.

Yusuf, a son of the late Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Abdalla, spoke on what he described as the tradition of single term in the constituency.

He said that past members from the area were not returned for a second term regardless of performance. “In Lokoja Constituency 1, we have never voted for anyone twice. That has been the pattern here,” he explained.

He also questioned the process that led to Ebaiya’s selection. According to Yusuf, Ward E had been considered next in line for the Assembly ticket, but that the arrangement changed after the incoming Local Government Chairman emerged from the same ward.

He expressed concern about how the decision was reached, saying that he believes that a small group of stakeholders should not determine outcomes for a large number of voters in Lokoja.