The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially inaugurated Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman, marking a strategic shift in leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda’s emergence followed his nomination by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who also serves as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum. The motion was seconded by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, during Thursday’s meeting of the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
His appointment was ratified at approximately 2:50 p.m., following days of consultations between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors, who met behind closed doors to agree on a consensus candidate.
Professor Yilwatda, 56, replaces Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down in June citing health concerns amid internal party controversies. His appointment is seen as a calculated effort to rejuvenate the APC and restore public trust.
A technocrat and seasoned administrator, Yilwatda is a former Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where he served across multiple states between 2017 and 2021. He was also the APC’s governorship candidate in Plateau State during the 2023 general elections. Prior to his political career, he was a lecturer and Director of ICT at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
His appointment fulfills the APC’s zoning arrangement, which allocates the chairmanship position to the North-Central region. As a Christian from Plateau State, his leadership is also seen as a move to balance the party’s religious and regional dynamics, especially in the wake of criticism over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Party insiders have described Yilwatda as “young, competent, and scandal-free,” with many expressing hope that his tenure will bring unity and reform to the party’s structure.
With his inauguration now complete, all eyes are on the new chairman as he begins the task of steering the APC toward internal stability and preparing the party for future electoral challenges.
