The senator-elect for Plateau Central District, Diket Plang, said he is going to be a senator with a difference in the 10th Assembly.
Plang, who is the only APC senator-elect from Plateau State said he would give his best because he won on his third attempt.
He made the above remark at a press conference in Jos, the Plateau State capital to express his appreciation to his constituents for giving him the mandate.
The senator-elect said: “I have finally achieved my long-awaited dream to represent my people at the highest legislative level.
“And having achieved my aim, I am going to be a senator with a difference. I said so because my experience and my capacity will propel me to impact positively on the lives of the people in my constituents, the state and the nation in general.
“I have served my people as a councillor in the past and I have also served the people as a state legislator. I have also served in the executive arm of government as commissioner and special adviser.
“I am going to deploy these experiences over the years to impact positively on my people at the 10th assembly because I already know what to do to lobby federal presence to my senatorial zone. That is why I said I will be a senator with a difference.
“I was declared the winner because the voters know the various personalities contesting to be a senator from the zone and the result of the election represents the popular choice of the people.”
Plang was declared the winner after the supplementary election on the zone by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Those who know him very well said his election must be based on his character and capacity.
Plang polled total votes of 131,129 to defeat his closest rival, Yohanna Gotom of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who came second with 127,022 votes.
He added: “I was chosen because I dwell with the electorates; I have served them as a councillor in the past and I have also served the people as a state legislator. This means the people know my credentials and my capacity to deliver.”
After receiving his Certificate of Return, the Plateau Central senator-elect dedicated his victory to the leadership of the APC, particularly Governor Simon Bako Lalong, who is the leader of the party in the state.
After nine weeks of suspense, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Plang the winner of the senatorial election, following the recent supplementary election.
Speaking with reporters shortly after receiving the certificate, Plang said: “I dedicate this certificate to our humble leader, Governor Simon Lalong, and the transparent leadership of the APC under Rufus Bature for allowing somebody like me without any noticeable economic strength to win the primary and consequently the senatorial seat.
“I am also dedicating the certificate to all APC members in the zone; they voted for me without any financial inducement. I also thank INEC for the transparency, fairness, and high sense of sincerity exhibited during the election.
“Even when the opposition didn’t want me to be there, INEC stood its ground in ensuring that justice and fairness were brought to the fore to declare the rightful winner of the election.
“I want to assure the people of Plateau Central Zone and my leaders that I remain loyal, committed, and resolute in ensuring that I don’t disappoint them.”
The senator-elect, who said everyone in the zone contributed to his success at the poll, enjoined his opponents to team up with him toward providing qualitative representation for the people.
He added: “To those that did not succeed, I believe there is still another opportunity; they should team up with me and give me their people-oriented vision so that together we can provide the best for our people. When you fail, it is another opportunity to prepare to win. I pray that one day we will also celebrate them as well.”
