JUST IN: Nentawe Yilwatda Emerges As New APC National Chairman

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially settled on a new national chairman.

Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, a former governorship candidate and current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, will now steer the affairs of Nigeria’s ruling party.

Yilwatda replaces Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who recently resigned from the role due to health-related reasons.

His emergence followed a late-night meeting in Abuja between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors.

Sources confirmed that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will ratify his appointment later today.

At 56, Yilwatda brings a rich blend of experience to the job. He hails from Plateau State and fits into the party’s zoning formula.

The APC had earlier agreed to zone the chairmanship to the North-Central, which includes Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, and Plateau states.

Many APC insiders say his Christian faith also influenced his selection. With both Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima being Muslims, party leaders reportedly wanted a Christian chairman to create balance and show inclusiveness.

“He’s young, smart, and well-educated. Most importantly, he’s not weighed down by any political baggage,” a top party official said.

“We believe he can give the party a fresh face and help us regain public trust before the next elections.”

Yilwatda’s background is a mix of academics, public service, and politics.

He previously taught engineering at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. Between 2017 and 2021, he served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner with INEC.

During that time, he oversaw elections in Rivers, Benue, Osun, Cross River, and Anambra.

In 2021, he left INEC and joined the APC in Plateau State. Within a short period, he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in 2023.

Though he lost to the PDP, President Tinubu later appointed him Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

Now, he takes the helm of a party grappling with internal disputes, declining regional support, and public dissatisfaction.

His appointment is widely seen as a bold strategy shift to rebrand the APC and calm growing tensions within the party.

With the 2027 general elections in view, the APC hopes Yilwatda can unite the party, drive reforms, and reshape public perception.

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