Yilwatda Set to Lead APC as New National Chairman
President Bola Tinubu and governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reached a consensus to appoint Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as the party’s next national chairman. His nomination is expected to be ratified today at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which has been moved to the Presidential Villa in Abuja for enhanced security and symbolic backing from the presidency.
Yilwatda, 56, a former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, hails from Plateau State in the North-Central zone—fitting into the APC’s internal zoning formula. He takes over following the resignation of former chairman Abdullahi Ganduje in June.
An engineer and academic by training, Yilwatda transitioned from lecturing into public service, overseeing elections in five states between 2017 and 2021. He later contested the 2023 Plateau governorship election under the APC and was appointed minister in Tinubu’s cabinet in October 2024.
Party sources say his mix of technocratic discipline, electoral experience, and religious inclusivity made him a unifying choice. His Christian faith is seen as balancing the Muslim-led presidency and vice presidency, while his reputation for neutrality and competence is expected to help rebuild party credibility ahead of the 2027 elections.
The NEC is set to formally inaugurate Yilwatda during today’s meeting, with the Progressives Governors Forum expected to move the adoption motion, and the House Speaker to second it. The gathering will also address lingering zoning disputes and finalize strategies for upcoming by-elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun—key tests of the party’s strength at the grassroots.
As APC gears up for future electoral battles, Yilwatda’s immediate tasks will be to mend internal divisions and steer the party toward a clearer, more inclusive agenda. His leadership will be critical in reshaping the APC’s image and preparing it for the road to 2027.
