Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and a former university lecturer, has emerged as the consensus nominee to become the new national chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to PREMIUM TIMES, Yilwatda is set to replace Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who recently resigned due to health concerns.
Yilwatda’s selection followed a late-night meeting in Abuja between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors.
His appointment is expected to be ratified by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at a meeting scheduled for later today.
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The 56-year-old nominee, who hails from Plateau State and was the APC’s gubernatorial candidate in the state in the 2023 general elections, aligns with the party’s zoning arrangement that allocated the national chairmanship to the North-Central geopolitical zone (comprising Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states).
According to multiple party insiders, Yilwatda’s Christian faith was also a favorable factor. With both the President and Vice President being Muslims, APC leaders reportedly believe that appointing a Christian chairman will help project inclusivity and broaden the party’s appeal across different religious groups.
A senior party official stated that Yilwatda is “young, suave, well-educated, and doesn’t carry the usual political baggage,” expressing hope that he can “give the party a new face and restore credibility ahead of future elections.”
Professor Yilwatda brings a diverse background of academic, bureaucratic, and political experience. Before entering politics, he was an engineering lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
He also served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2017 to 2021, overseeing elections in several states.
In December 2021, he resigned from INEC, joined the APC in Plateau State, and quickly became its governorship candidate.
Although he lost the election, President Tinubu later appointed him Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
His emergence as APC chairman signals a potential shift in strategy for the ruling party, which has recently faced criticism over internal divisions, declining popularity in some regions, and leadership instability.
Party leaders are optimistic that under Professor Yilwatda’s leadership, the APC can rejuvenate its image and consolidate its power ahead of future electoral contests.
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