Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda May Emerge New APC National Chairman

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, is strongly positioned to become the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as party leaders, governors, and other key stakeholders meet in Abuja to decide the future of the ruling party’s leadership. Yilwatda, a 56-year-old technocrat and academic from Plateau State, is widely believed to be the consensus candidate ahead of today’s crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party. The development comes nearly a month after the resignation of former chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down amidst internal party disagreements and mounting pressure from within the APC hierarchy. Sources at the NEC meeting, which convened earlier today at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Progressive Governors’ Forum have thrown their weight behind Yilwatda. His name reportedly emerged following weeks of high-level consultations and strategic political calculations aimed at restoring balance and unity within the party. According to party insiders, Yilwatda's nomination is considered a strategic move by the presidency to consolidate influence over the APC structure and navigate the party through a period of internal recalibration. His North-Central origin, Christian background, and uncontroversial technocratic profile are said to have worked in his favour, as the party seeks to address growing concerns over regional and religious representation in its leadership ranks. Yilwatda, an engineer and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, was appointed Minister in 2023 and has earned a reputation for loyalty to the Tinubu administration. His emergence is seen by many as a fresh opportunity to inject credibility and stability into the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections. Although no official statement has yet been released by the APC, strong indications suggest that Prof. Yilwatda may be announced as the Acting National Chairman before the end of today’s NEC proceedings, pending ratification at a full national convention to be held later this year. Party chieftains and supporters are reportedly optimistic about the new leadership direction, with several governors and top officials describing Yilwatda as a bridge-builder capable of uniting the APC’s various factions and restoring internal cohesion. If confirmed, Yilwatda’s elevation would mark a significant shift in the APC's political calculus, reinforcing the President’s grip on the party while potentially altering regional power dynamics ahead of the next electoral cycle. Observers say his tenure will be closely watched for how he manages party discipline, reconciliation efforts, and preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly as the APC faces challenges from an emboldened opposition and internal dissent in some states. As the party continues its closed-door deliberations, expectations remain high that an official announcement of Prof. Yilwatda's appointment is imminent.