Ignatius Datong Longjan Explained

Ignatius Datong Longjan
Office1:Senator for Plateau South
Term Start1:11 June 2019
Term End1:10 February 2020
Predecessor1:Jeremiah Useni
Successor1:Nora Daduut
Office2:Deputy Governor of Plateau State
Governor2:Jonah David Jang
Term Start2:29 May 2011
Term End2:29 May 2015
Predecessor2:Pauline Tallen
Successor2:Sonni Gwanle Tyoden
Office3:Chief of Staff to the Governor of Plateau State
Governor3:Jonah David Jang
Term Start3:29 May 2007
Term End3:29 May 2011
Successor3:Gyang Pwajok
Birth Date:19 May 1944
Death Place:Abuja, Nigeria
Nationality:Nigerian
Party:All Progressives Congress

Ignatius Datong Longjan (19 May 1944 – 10 February 2020) was a Nigerian diplomat and politician who served as the senator representing the Plateau South senatorial district from 2019 until his death in 2020.[1] He previously served as the deputy governor of Plateau State from 2011 to 2015.[2]

Early life and education

Longjan was born in Kwa, Quanpaan Local government area of the present day Plateau State. He attended the Kwa Junior/Senior Primary School and St. Joseph's College, Vom. He then attended the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for his university education, where he obtained a Diploma in Law, and also attended the City University of New York, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in public administration.

Diplomatic career

Most of his working life was spent in the Nigerian foreign service in Nigerian missions abroad including Hamburg in Germany, The Hague in Holland, Conakry in Guinea, New York in the USA and Moscow in Russia.

Political career

Longjan was the chief of staff to the Plateau State governor between 2007 and 2011. He subsequently became the deputy governor of the state between 2011 and 2015. In 2019, he contested the election to represent the Plateau Southern senatorial seat in the Nigerian National Assembly. At his party's primary selection, he scored 972 votes to beat the other contestants for the party's ticket.[3] In the 25 February 2019 general election, he polled 140,918 votes to win the election.[4]

Death

On 10 February 2020, Longjan died at a hospital in Abuja, Nigeria.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Sunday . Aborisade . Longjan, Plateau South senator is dead . Punch . 10 February 2020.
  2. News: Sadiq . Lami . Nigeria: Longjan Denies Defecting to APC . 25 January 2020 . Daily Trust . All Africa . 26 January 2015.
    - Book: Azikiwe, Ifeoha . Nigeria, Echoes of a Century . Two: 1999–2014 . 2013 . AuthorHouse . Bloomington. 9781481729277 . 160 . 25 January 2020 . Google Books.
  3. News: Plateau South: Ignatius Longjan picks APC senatorial ticket . Today . 5 October 2018.
  4. Web site: Declaration of Results:Plateau South . Independent National Commission . 2019 . 3 August 2023.
    - News: Isa Abdulsalami . Ahovi. Tribunal upholds Longjan's election as Plateau senator . The Guardian . Nigeria . 18 September 2019.
  5. News: Nigerian senator, Ignatius Longjan, is dead . QueenEsther . Iroanusi . Premium Times . 10 February 2020.
    - News: Senator Longjan dies at 75 . Dennis . Erezi . The Guardian . Nigeria . 10 February 2020.
    - News: Plateau Senator, Ignatius Longjan, Dies at 75 . Akinola . Ajibola . 10 February 2020 . Channels .