BREAKING: APC elects Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda as new National Chairman

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially announced Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman during the 14th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

The appointment marks a significant shift in the party’s leadership, following the resignation of former chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on June 27, 2025, due to health concerns.

Yilwatda, a 56-year-old engineer, academic, and seasoned public servant from Plateau State, was unanimously endorsed by party leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

The nomination, proposed by Imo State Governor and PGF Chairman Hope Uzodinma, was seconded by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, during a high-level meeting that extended into the early hours of Thursday.

Yilwatda’s appointment signals the APC’s intent to prioritize technocratic leadership over traditional political figures, a move party insiders describe as a strategic effort to reposition the party ahead of future political engagements.

Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yilwatda brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

He holds a degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (1992), a Master’s degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

A registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), he is also a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Solar Society of Nigeria.

Yilwatda’s professional journey spans nearly three decades in both public and private sectors.

He served as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2017 to 2021, where he managed voting processes for internally displaced persons and people living with disabilities.

He also led the ICT unit at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, for 12 years and contributed to significant projects, including the World Bank-funded Nigeria Education and Research Network (NgREN) and UNICEF’s alternative energy initiatives for cold chain systems across Nigeria.

In 2022, Yilwatda resigned from INEC to contest the APC governorship primary in Plateau State, emerging as the party’s flagbearer.

Although he lost to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Caleb Mutfwang in the 2023 general election, Yilwatda accepted the Supreme Court’s ruling with grace, solidifying his reputation as a principled leader.

In October 2024, President Tinubu appointed him as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, a role he continues to hold alongside his new position as APC National Chairman.

Yilwatda’s emergence follows weeks of intense speculation and negotiations within the APC, particularly after Ganduje’s resignation left the party’s leadership in flux.

The chairmanship, originally zoned to the North Central region, had been temporarily held by Ali Bukar Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North), on an interim basis.

Stakeholders from the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had vocally advocated for the position to return to their region, citing fairness and the party’s internal zoning arrangements.