Young Journalist joins race for Plateau South Senatorial polls
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An ex Reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria, Mark Longyen, has joined the race for the forthcoming bye-election to replace the late Senator Ignatius Longjan of Plateau South Senatorial District who died early this year.
Longyen in a letter of interest to the State APC Chairman, Letep Dabang and Governor, Simon Lalong said his decision to contest in the bye-election followed three months of “deep and wide consultations” with the people and stakeholders of the party in the state and the Plateau Southern Senatorial Zone, from where he hails.
In the letter, dated June 9, 2020, the immediate past Spokesman to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, said he was a “strategic and critical stakeholder” in the zone and the ruling party, APC.
He had served the state “credibly” as a Spokesman to the Governor for many years, he said, pledging to do the State and the nation proud if elected to the National Assembly.
The letter of intent reads in part: “My decision to run the race is sequel to my deep and wide consultations over the past three months with critical stakeholders of our beloved party (including you), as well as my teeming political associates and supporters across the six LGAs that constitute the Plateau South Senatorial District.
“As a strategic stakeholder and bonafide card-carrying member of the party, who served for many years in the APC government at the highest level as the Governor’s Spokesman, and who also knows the nitty-gritty of the Senatorial District’s politics, I am convinced that I have all it takes to win the election and do the people, the state and the nation proud in the National Assembly.
“To this end, I hereby, solicit your full support and fervent prayers for God’s blessings to realize this noble intention for the overall benefit of the party, the people and the zone.”
Longyen hails from the same Pan ethnic group of Quaanpan Local Government Area with the late Longjan. He holds two postgraduate qualifications, that is, a Masters Degree in Law and Diplomacy, a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism, as well as a Bachelors Degree in International Relations.
Longyen will be racing for the APC ticket against Chief of Staff to Governor Lalong, John Dafaan, the present Chairman of Quaanpan LGA, Isaac Kwallu and a female Professor of French Language in the University of Jos, Nora Daduut, among others.
