New Chapter For APC As National Chairman Emerge
New Chapter For APC As National Chairman Emerge
The sun had barely risen over the bustling capital when whispers of a seismic shift began to circulate within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC). By Thursday, at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, a new name was poised to take center stage: Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. Sources close to the party revealed that, barring last-minute changes, Yilwatda would be named the Acting National Chairman, stepping into a role critical to steering the APC through turbulent times.
The path to this moment had been paved with upheaval. On June 27, Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC’s former national chairman, tendered his resignation, leaving a void that Ali Bukar Dalori, the deputy national chairman (North), filled temporarily. But as the NEC meeting loomed, the party’s leadership sought a figure with both gravitas and loyalty to guide the APC forward. Yilwatda, a 56-year-old engineer and academic from Plateau State, emerged as the frontrunner—a man whose journey through Nigeria’s political landscape had been marked by resilience and quiet determination.
Born on August 8, 1968, Yilwatda’s story is one of steady ascent. A seasoned academic, he served as the ICT director at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, for 12 years, honing his expertise in systems and strategy. His political career gained momentum when he took on the role of resident electoral commissioner in Benue State from 2017 to 2021, earning a reputation for competence and fairness. By 2023, he was a key figure in the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organization in Plateau State, rallying support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid. His loyalty to the APC and his close ties with former Plateau governor Simon Lalong made him a natural choice when Lalong’s ministerial slot opened after his election to the Senate.
Yilwatda’s political mettle was tested in the 2023 Plateau gubernatorial elections, where he ran as the APC’s candidate. Though he challenged the Peoples Democratic Party’s victory in court, the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the PDP marked a setback. Yet, Yilwatda accepted the judgment with grace, a move that won him respect as a leader who prioritized unity over personal ambition. His appointment as a minister in October 2024 was seen as a reward for his steadfast commitment to the party—and a stepping stone to greater responsibilities.
As the NEC meeting approached, the APC faced mounting challenges: internal divisions, questions of cohesion, and the looming specter of the 2027 elections. Yilwatda’s potential appointment as acting chairman was more than a personnel change; it was a signal of the party’s intent to stabilize and strategize. His background as an engineer, academic, and political organizer positioned him as a bridge between the APC’s technocratic and grassroots wings, capable of addressing the party’s fractures while advancing Tinubu’s agenda.
In the quiet corridors of Abuja’s political elite, the anticipation was palpable. Would Yilwatda, with his measured demeanor and deep ties to Plateau’s political machinery, rise to the occasion? As party chieftains prepared to gather, the stage was set for a new chapter in the APC’s story—one where a man from Plateau State might just hold the key to unifying a party, and perhaps a nation, at a critical juncture.
