President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Nentawe Yilwatda, as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), replacing Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down due to health reasons.
The announcement came hours before the APC’s scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting set for 2 PM today in Abuja.
Sources within the party confirmed that the decision was sealed during a late-night strategy meeting at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, attended by President Tinubu, APC governors, and senior party stakeholders.
A top member of the APC National Working Committee revealed that the party was in search of a dynamic and fresh face not entrenched in the party’s old power structure. Yilwatda’s appointment is also believed to be part of a strategic balance, given his Christian background and technocratic profile.
Nentawe Yilwatda, born August 8, 1968, hails from Kanke LGA of Plateau State. Before becoming Minister in 2023, he contested as APC’s governorship candidate in Plateau during the 2023 general elections.
He also previously served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The engineer-turned-politician is widely regarded as a reform-minded technocrat with a reputation for efficiency and innovation in public administration.
His elevation to the top party position is expected to reset the tone of APC’s internal leadership dynamics ahead of 2027.
