Nentawe Yilwatda appointed new APC chairman after Ganduje’s resignation

Summary

• Professor Nentawe Yilwatda has emerged as the new national chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
• His appointment was ratified on 24 July 2025 by the APC National Executive Committee in Abuja
• Yilwatda replaces Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down on health grounds on 27 June 2025
• His emergence is seen as a strategic move to restore regional balance and prepare the party for the 2027 elections

Abuja, Nigeria — Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has been officially named the new national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the resignation of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje last month. The decision was confirmed during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday, 24 July 2025, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

Yilwatda’s appointment follows weeks of intense consultations among key party stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu, governors under the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), and members of the National Assembly. His nomination was spearheaded by PGF chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and seconded by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The move marks a return of the APC’s national chairmanship to the North-Central zone, a region previously sidelined when Ganduje from Kano (North-West) succeeded Senator Abdullahi Adamu in 2023. Stakeholders from the North-Central, particularly the APC Forum within the zone, had consistently lobbied for the position’s restoration to their region.

Yilwatda, who until now served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, was ultimately chosen as a consensus candidate, edging out several contenders including Senator Tanko Al-Makura and Senator Sani Musa. His appointment is also being interpreted as a strategic balancing act, considering his Christian background amid concerns over the party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

Born in Plateau State in 1968, Yilwatda is a trained engineer, academic, and public administrator with a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His previous roles include Resident Electoral Commissioner at INEC, Director of ICT at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and APC gubernatorial candidate in Plateau during the 2023 elections.

In his inaugural remarks, Yilwatda pledged to unify the party and foster internal democracy, saying, “This is not a personal triumph, but a call to serve every member of the APC. I will work to ensure all voices are heard.”

Political observers say Yilwatda’s experience in electoral management and governance could help stabilise the APC as it grapples with internal divisions and prepares for the 2027 general elections. However, questions remain about how he will manage the dual responsibilities of party leadership and ministerial duties, with some reports suggesting he may be replaced in the cabinet.

Support for his appointment has been strong within the presidency, with both President Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu reportedly backing his candidacy. Yet, some critics have expressed concern about his relatively recent entry into the APC and whether he possesses the political clout to steer the party through turbulent waters.

Nonetheless, his selection has sparked optimism among many party members and constituents from Plateau State, who view it as a significant political win for the region.