The immediate past Spokesman to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Hon Mark Longyen, has formally joined the league of aspirants who are contesting in the forthcoming bye-election to replace the late Senator Ignatius Longjan of Plateau South Senatorial District who died early this year.

Longyen made this known in a formal letter declaring his decision to run the senatorial race addressed to the state chairman of the party, Chief Letep Dabang and the Governor, obtained by our correspondent in Jos .

According to the journalist turned politician, his decision to contest in the bye-election was the outcome of three months of deep and wide consultations with the people and stakeholders of the party in the state and the Plateau South Senatorial Zone, which he hails from.

In the letter, dated June 9, 2020, which he personally signed, Longyen noted that he was a strategic and critical stakeholder in the zone and the ruling party, APC, stressing that he had served the state credibly at the highest level as a Spokesman to the Governor for many years.

He added that he was familiar with the politics of the Senatorial Zone, claiming that he has all it takes to win the election. He said that his people had urged him to run the race, and promised to do the people, the state and the nation proud in 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.

Some political pundits in Plateau State say his entering the race may prove to be the game-changer as he slugs it out in the APC primaries with his kins like the former Chief of Staff to Governor Lalong, John Dafaan, the present chairman of Quaanpan LGA, Isaac Kwallu and a female Professor of French Language at the University of Jos, Nora Daduut, among others.