The All Progressives Congress (APC) has chosen Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman, following the resignation of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje due to health reasons.
Professor Yilwatda’s nomination came after a late-night meeting in Abuja between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors, according to sources familiar with the decision. The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is expected to approve his appointment later today.
Yilwatda, 56, is from Plateau State and served as the APC governorship candidate in the state during the 2023 elections. He is also the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and a former university lecturer.
His selection follows APC’s zoning arrangement, which reserved the chairmanship for the North-Central zone, including Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.
According to insiders, Yilwatda’s Christian background also helped his chances. With both the president and vice president being Muslims, party leaders wanted to reflect religious balance.
“He is young, suave, well-educated, and doesn’t carry the usual political baggage. We believe he can give the party a new face and restore credibility ahead of future elections,” a senior APC official told PREMIUM TIMES.
Also Read:
- Senate Stops Senator Natasha from Attending Plenary
- APC to Announce New National Chairman on Thursday
Yilwatda brings a rich background in academics, public service, and politics. He was a lecturer in engineering at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and also served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2017 to 2021, overseeing elections in several states.
He resigned from INEC in 2021, returned to Plateau State, and joined the APC. Though he lost the 2023 governorship election to the PDP, he was later appointed minister by President Tinubu.
His appointment marks a new chapter for the ruling party, which has faced internal crises and declining support in some parts of the country.
Party leaders are hopeful that Yilwatda’s leadership will help rebuild unity, boost credibility, and strengthen the APC ahead of future elections.