Longjan wins, Pauline Tallen’s senatorial ambition collapses,

By Thompson Yamput/Shendam

Mrs. Pauline Tallen has lost the battle to win the senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau South to Ignatius Datong Longjan, a former deputy to former Plateau governor Jonah Jang.

Tallen was also a former deputy governor to Jang in the state.She served in Jang’s first tenure(2007-2011), while Longjan served in Jang’s second tenure(2011-2015).

According to the results of the primary election held in Shendam, Longjan scored 972 votes to beat four others including Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Jang’s Deputy Governor in his first tenure.

Longjan is seeking to replace Sen. Jeremiah Useni of the PDP, who has picked his party’s governorship ticket.

Details of the results as announced by the electoral officer, Mr Abu Isa, showed that Nanven Nimfel came second with 786 votes, while Jibrin Banchir, Pauline Tallen and Stephen Dashe scored 41, nine and five votes, respectively.

Isa described the exercise as “very transparent, peaceful, free and fair,’’ and thanked the delegates and party officials for making the primary election a “huge success.’’.

Reacting to his victory, Longjan promised to do his best for the constituency if elected, and appealed to the other contestants to work toward success in the secondary elections.