New APC National Chairman: All You Need To Know About Supposed Ganduje’s Successor, Nentawe Yilwatda

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

Barring any last-minute changes, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to announce the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, as its new national chairman.

Reports emerged late Wednesday night that President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Yilwatda as the new National Chairman of the ruling party.

Mataz Arising reports that this development has put to rest the intense speculations over who will replace the immediate past national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who resigned from the position on health grounds.

A member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) who spoke to Daily Sun stated that Yilwatda’s appointment is based on the decision of the party leaders to ensure that a democrat takes over the affairs of the party instead of the hitherto regular politicians who have superintended over the party previously.

All You Need To Know About Nentawe Yilwatda

Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda hails from a devout Christian family, the late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda, Mataz Arising understands.

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

Between 2017 and 2021, Yilwatda served as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), resigning to contest the APC governorship primary in 2022.

He eventually emerged as the party’s flagbearer but lost to PDP’s Caleb Mutfwang in the general election.

A former ICT Director at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Yilwatda has worked as a consultant for international development partners and has nearly three decades of public and private sector experience. He is also a seasoned lecturer and community development expert.

Ministerial Role Linked to Lalong’s Senate Return

Yilwatda was appointed minister following the resignation of his political mentor, Simon Lalong, who vacated the role to reclaim his Senate seat after a Court of Appeal ruling upturned the initial PDP victory in Plateau South.

During the 2023 presidential elections, Yilwatda served as the state coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation, further cementing his loyalty to the ruling party and its current leadership.

Yilwatda was a former APC governorship candidate in Plateau State and a close ally of former Governor Simon Lalong.

Fallback For APC National Chairman

Naija News understands that although Yilwatda appears to have the edge of becoming the new APC National Chairman, some insiders say that former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, remains a strong alternative should negotiations fail to produce consensus around the Plateau-born professor.

“The leadership of the party, including President Bola Tinubu and APC governors, have narrowed their search to Nentawe and Al-Makura,” a senior party source told Daily Trust.

“But the momentum is clearly with Nentawe.”

The chairmanship, originally zoned to the North Central region, was temporarily shifted when Ganduje from Kano State in the North West was controversially appointed.

His resignation, according to party insiders, was partly triggered by internal resistance, particularly from North Central stakeholders who felt sidelined after Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s abrupt exit following the 2023 elections.

By returning the position to the North Central and potentially selecting a Christian, party leaders aim to address longstanding grievances and offer balance in the face of criticisms over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

NEC Meeting Holds Key Decision

All eyes are now on today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC, where the final decision on the party’s next chairman is expected.

Naija News reports that while the leadership has leaned heavily towards Yilwatda, the possibility of a consensus around Senator Al-Makura remains, depending on internal alignment across interest blocs.

For the APC, today’s decision could help calm factional tensions, reassert zoning principles, and restore a sense of fairness within the party as it looks ahead to future political battles, including the 2027 general elections.

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