The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has emerged as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following a unanimous decision at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Yilwatda’s nomination was moved by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and seconded by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. The decision was sealed at about 2:50pm when he was officially sworn in, replacing Abdullahi Ganduje who resigned in June amid mounting pressure from within the party.
Yilwatda, a technocrat and former INEC commissioner from Plateau State, was widely backed by President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu, a development that many insiders say tipped the scales in his favour. His emergence is seen as a strategic recalibration of power within the APC, particularly with an eye on strengthening the party’s hold on the North Central region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His appointment also signals a shift towards technocratic leadership in the ruling party, given his academic and electoral background. Yilwatda was the APC governorship candidate in Plateau during the 2023 elections and previously served as INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State.
With his new role, party stakeholders expect a fresh direction in internal governance and nationwide political mobilisation under his watch.