The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman, replacing Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje who recently stepped down from the position due to health-related concerns.
Yilwatda’s emergence was confirmed late Wednesday night following a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, convened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was attended by APC governors and top party stakeholders, and held in anticipation of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for 2:00pm today.
The appointment of Yilwatda, who currently serves as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, is seen as a strategic move by the party leadership to inject new energy into the APC’s top ranks. According to a reliable source within the National Working Committee, the party sought “a fresh face who is not tied to the entrenched political networks,” in a bid to rebrand its national outlook.
The source also noted that the choice of Yilwatda was partly influenced by his religious background, aimed at achieving a more balanced leadership structure within the APC. Yilwatda, a Christian from Plateau State, hails from a clerical family and is expected to appeal to broader religious and regional interests within the party.
A former governorship candidate in Plateau State during the 2023 general elections, Yilwatda was appointed Minister the same year after a stint with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State. He is also an academic with expertise in engineering and public administration.
Born on August 8, 1968, in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yilwatda’s elevation marks a significant shift in the APC's internal power dynamics as the party prepares for its NEC meeting and future political engagements.
His appointment is expected to be formally ratified during the NEC session later today.
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