Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Appointed New APC National Chairman.
Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has been named the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a consensus reached during a late-night meeting between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors in Abuja. The appointment, which aligns with the party’s zoning arrangement reserving the chairmanship for the North-Central geopolitical zone, is set to be ratified by the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting today, 24 July 2025.
Yilwatda, 56, hails from Plateau State and brings a wealth of experience to the role. A former engineering lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, he served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2017 to 2021, overseeing elections in Benue, Anambra, Osun, Rivers, and Cross River states. In 2021, he resigned from INEC to join the APC and ran as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State during the 2023 general elections, though he was defeated by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang. President Tinubu later appointed him Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.
The selection of Yilwatda follows the resignation of the former APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, on 28 June 2025, citing health concerns. Ganduje, a former Kano State governor, had served as chairman since August 2023. Since his departure, Ali Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North), has acted as interim chairman. The decision to appoint Yilwatda was finalised after extensive consultations among party stakeholders, with his Christian faith reportedly seen as a strategic advantage to promote inclusivity, given that both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are Muslims.
Party insiders suggest Yilwatda’s appointment signals a shift in strategy for the APC, which has faced criticism over internal divisions, leadership instability, and declining popularity in some regions. His academic background, bureaucratic expertise, and political experience are expected to help rejuvenate the party’s image and consolidate its position ahead of future elections. The North-Central zone, comprising Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states, has reclaimed the chairmanship, which was previously held by Senator Abdullahi Adamu until his resignation in 2023.
Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, confirmed that discussions with President Tinubu also focused on strengthening the APC’s grassroots support and ensuring the benefits of ongoing reforms reach ordinary Nigerians. The NEC meeting, relocated to the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa for logistical reasons, is expected to address critical party matters and formalise Yilwatda’s appointment.
Yilwatda’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for the APC, with the party aiming to address internal challenges and prepare for upcoming off-cycle elections. Stakeholders hope his tenure will foster unity and enhance the party’s appeal across Nigeria’s diverse electorate.
