President Bola Tinubu and APC governors have reportedly reached a consensus on appointing Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as the next National Chairman of the ruling party, succeeding Abdullahi Ganduje. The decision, reached during a late-night Aso Rock meeting, is set to be formalized at today’s NEC session.
Background
1. End to Leadership Speculation
Ganduje stepped down last week citing health concerns, triggering a scramble within the APC. The impasse ended when Tinubu and the Progressive Governors Forum backed Yilwatda, bringing clarity to the leadership vacuum. His appointment reflects APC’s commitment to its zoning formula, with the chairmanship rotating to the North-Central region.
2. Who Is Nentawe Yilwatda?
- Wednesday, July 24, 2025 – Professor Yilwatda (aged 56) currently serves as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
- Formerly an INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (2017–2021), he also led federal campaigns in NW/East states.
- He ran unsuccessfully for Plateau governorship in 2023 and built a reputation in academia at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
3. Zoning, Religious Balance & Strategic Fit
His Christian faith and roots in Plateau fit neatly into APC’s formula to balance religion and region alongside Tinubu’s Muslim presidency. Party leaders view him as a fresh, untainted face with intellectual acumen, ideal for restoring cohesion and credibility ahead of the 2027 elections.
Controversies & Challenges
Sources suggest he faces skepticism, particularly from the North-Central APC Forum, which faulted him for being unresponsive to displacement crises in Plateau and implicated in APC’s 2023 losses there. Yilwatda has denied these claims, countering that he personally visited affected areas and delivered substantial relief.
What’s At Stake
If ratified at the July 24 APC NEC meeting, Yilwatda’s leadership marks a strategic pivot:
- Restore party unity after Ganduje’s abrupt exit.
- Bolster APC credibility across Nigeria’s Midwest.
- Project leadership stability toward the 2027 elections.
As APC prepares to confirm the appointment, all eyes are on whether Yilwatda can deliver on the party’s hopes for renewed strength amid internal tensions and rising humanitarian expectations.
👉 Will he bridge regional divides or face internal resistance? Share your thoughts below.
