Tinubu Appoints Nentawe Yilwatda as APC National Chairman Amid Party Reforms

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly endorsed and appointed Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This announcement ends months of speculation surrounding who would succeed the immediate past chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down due to health concerns.

Yilwatda’s appointment is seen as a strategic move by the APC leadership to usher in a new era of technocratic and democratic leadership, moving away from the dominance of traditional politicians within the party’s hierarchy. Sources from the National Working Committee (NWC) confirmed the development on Thursday, shortly before the party’s scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The choice of Yilwatda reportedly received unanimous backing during a high-level stakeholders’ parley at Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Wednesday night. The meeting included President Tinubu, members of the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), and other top party leaders who rallied around the decision to bring in fresh energy and perspective into the party leadership.

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A Technocrat with Electoral and Administrative Clout

Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, a technocrat with an impressive academic and professional record, brings a unique blend of public administration, engineering expertise, and electoral management to the table. His journey into national relevance began in earnest when he was appointed as a Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2017, serving in Benue State.

An engineer by training, Yilwatda is a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the Solar Society of Nigeria. His professional background, coupled with his brief but eventful stint as the APC gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State in 2023, sets him apart as a candidate with both political experience and technical proficiency.

The 55-year-old was born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State to the family of the late Reverend and Mrs. Toma Yilwatda. His Christian background is being touted as a significant factor in correcting the religious imbalance within the APC’s national leadership structure—another key motivation behind his appointment.

Strategic Political Balancing

Party insiders confirmed that Yilwatda’s religious identity was part of a broader effort to maintain inclusivity and representation across Nigeria’s religious divides. The APC has faced ongoing criticism for its perceived tilt toward a Muslim-dominated leadership, particularly following the controversial Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2023 elections.

According to the NWC source who spoke to Daily Sun, the selection of Yilwatda is intended to “strategically balance” the national leadership and project a more inclusive image to party members and the Nigerian electorate. “We need a democrat, not a power broker. Someone who understands systems, builds consensus, and can manage a diverse political structure like APC,” the source added.

Ganduje’s Exit Opens the Door for Reform

With Ganduje stepping down due to health reasons, Yilwatda’s emergence represents a deliberate shift from old guard politics to a more performance-oriented leadership. While Ganduje’s tenure was marred by internal party wrangling and public perception issues, the incoming chairman is expected to emphasize strategic planning, professional administration, and internal party cohesion.

His dual experience as a former electoral commissioner and minister positions him well to drive political reforms from within the party. Political observers believe his appointment signals Tinubu’s intent to maintain tighter control over the APC while also introducing technocratic governance at the party level.

Challenges Ahead for Yilwatda

While Yilwatda brings new hope and direction, his tenure will not be without its challenges. Managing competing interests within the APC—Nigeria’s most dominant political coalition—will test his leadership from the outset. He will also need to steer the party through preparations for the upcoming off-cycle elections and ensure grassroots support remains intact.

Moreover, with the next general election cycle only a few years away, expectations are high for Yilwatda to build bridges between warring factions, strengthen the party’s internal democratic processes, and reinvigorate its public image.

As the NEC convenes today, the APC leadership is expected to ratify his appointment officially. For now, Yilwatda stands as a symbol of renewal in Nigeria’s ruling party—an engineer stepping into the engine room of one of Africa’s largest political machines.