In a major shake-up at the top of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Tinubu has appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as the party’s new National Chairman.
Yilwatda’s appointment ends weeks of intense speculation over who would succeed Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who recently stepped down citing health concerns.
A top APC National Working Committee (NWC) source revealed that party leaders opted for Yilwatda to bring a more technocratic, democratic edge to the APC’s leadership, steering away from career politicians.
The decision, announced just ahead of today’s crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, follows a closed-door strategy session Wednesday night at the Presidential Villa involving president Bola Tinubu and APC governors.
The News Chronicle observed that the choice of Yilwatda, a Christian from Plateau State, also reflects a deliberate effort to address religious imbalances in the party’s leadership structure, describing the move as “strategic.”
Yilwatda, an engineer by training and former INEC Commissioner, ran as the APC’s gubernatorial candidate in Plateau in the 2023 elections. Known for his technocratic style and strong electoral background, he is expected to bring both professional and political clout to the APC’s top job.
Born August 8, 1968, the former professor and seasoned administrator hails from Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State.
