By : Umar Faruk
Abuja, Nigeria - July 24, 2025 (Series News Online)
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has a new National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who is currently serving as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. This development comes ahead of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for today.
According to a report published by News Express, Yilwatda's emergence as the new APC National Chairman lays to rest intense speculations over who would replace the immediate past national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who resigned on health grounds. The report states, “Yilwatda’s emergence has finally laid to rest the intense speculations over who replaces the immediate past national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who resigned from the position on health grounds.”
The report further reveals that Prof Yilwatda's appointment was made after a stakeholders' parley involving President Bola Tinubu, the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), and others, which was held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Wednesday night. The report adds, “His appointment came ahead of today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling party, after the stakeholders’ parley involving President Bola Tinubu, the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) among others, held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.”
An unnamed member of APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) is quoted as disclosing that Prof Yilwatda’s appointment was a deliberate decision by party leaders to ensure a democrat takes over the party's affairs, marking a departure from the usual politicians who have previously led the party. The NWC source further explained that Yilwatda, a Christian, was chosen to correct the religious imbalance in the party's national hierarchy, describing the move as strategic. The report quotes the source as saying, “The NWC source also based the choice of Edward, who is a Christian, on the resolve of the party leaders to correct the religious imbalance in the hierarchy of the party’s national positions, describing it as strategic.”
Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area, brings significant administrative and electoral experience to his new role. The report notes that he was the APC Plateau governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections and was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs last year. The report adds, “Appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs last year, Yilwatda was the APC Plateau governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections. “Born on August 8, 1968 in Dungung, Kanke LG to the family of a clergy, Late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda, he came with huge administrative and electoral experiences.”
The report highlights Yilwatda's professional background, mentioning that he is a registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, and a member of the Solar Society of Nigeria. The report states, “As a registered Engineer with Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), member Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, member Nigeria Society of Engineers, member Solar Society of Nigeria, he came as a professional after an intense networking.”
Source: (News Express)
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Politics