The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, as its new national chairman. The announcement came during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held today, July 24, at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Yilwatda's emergence follows the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down citing health concerns. The NEC ratified Yilwatda’s nomination and subsequently administered the oath of office, marking a significant leadership shift within Nigeria’s ruling party.
A Zonal and Faith-Based Balancing Act
A native of Plateau State, Yilwatda, 56, was the APC's gubernatorial candidate during the 2023 general elections in his home state. His selection is believed to be influenced by the party’s internal zoning formula, which reserves the position of national chairman for the North-Central geopolitical zone, a region comprising Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.
Insiders within the party also revealed that Yilwatda’s Christian background played a strategic role in his emergence. With both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima being Muslims, appointing a Christian chairman is seen as a move to bolster religious inclusion and broaden the party’s appeal across faith lines.
Blending Academia, Bureaucracy, and Politics
Professor Yilwatda brings a strong mix of academic, technocratic, and political experience to the APC’s national leadership. He began his career as an engineering lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, before serving as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) between 2017 and 2021. In that capacity, he oversaw elections in volatile and diverse states like Benue, Anambra, Osun, Rivers, and Cross River.
His elevation to party chairman positions him at the intersection of governance and politics, where his administrative experience and grassroots appeal may prove critical in preparing the APC for the 2027 general elections.
NEC Meeting Attracts Party Heavyweights
The 14th NEC meeting of the APC, currently underway, has drawn a powerful attendance of political stakeholders, including: President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, House of Reps Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, PGF Chairman and Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and NGF Chairman and Kwara Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Also in attendance are former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, acting APC Chairman Ali Bukar Dalori, and a host of other prominent figures such as Yakubu Dogara, James Faleke, Adams Oshiomhole, Ned Nwoko, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and governors from Kogi, Niger, and Cross River states.
With internal restructuring and realignment, Prof. Yilwatda’s leadership may be tested on multiple fronts, from uniting the party and managing pre-2027 realignments to steering the APC’s ideological and electoral direction. His ability to blend technocratic expertise with political diplomacy will determine whether the party can sustain its dominance or face increasing opposition pressures.
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