Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, until now Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is reportedly poised to become the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Sources indicate that President Bola Tinubu, alongside First Lady Remi Tinubu and APC governors, have consolidated support behind Yilwatda, making him the consensus pick ahead of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for July 24, 2025. He is expected to formally succeed Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who recently stepped down due to health concerns.
The move also returns the national chairmanship to Nigeria’s North-Central geopolitical zone, fulfilling a zoning rotation originally planned before Ganduje’s appointment from Kano State in the North-West. Yilwatda, a Christian from Plateau State, represents the region and is viewed as a balancing choice to the Muslim–Muslim top ticket of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
A technocrat by training, Yilwatda holds a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering, was APC’s 2023 gubernatorial flagbearer in Plateau, and served as INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State from 2017 to 2021. He was later appointed minister in October 2024, filling the spot vacated by Senator Simon Lalong.
The APC’s Plateau chapter lauded his ministerial appointment as a deserved recognition of loyalty and competence, expressing belief in his ability to bridge divides and energize party support in the region. Nonetheless, a faction of the North-Central APC Forum has criticized Yilwatda, alleging underperformance in addressing humanitarian crises—particularly in his home state—accusing him of low visibility and insufficient intervention delayed by political rivalries. Yilwatda has vigorously denied these claims, citing multiple visits to crisis-affected areas and aid delivery to displaced communities.
As chairmanship discussions unfolded, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura—former governor and senator from Nasarawa State—was identified as an alternate candidate. However, internal momentum favors Yilwatda, with sources suggesting he enjoys strong backing within both the presidency and party ranks. Should party leadership and NEC ratify his appointment, he may formally assume duties over acting chairman Ali Bukar Dalori, who has held the position since June.
Critics caution that Yilwatda, a relatively recent entrant to major political office, might struggle to navigate the APC’s internal factional divide. Nonetheless, supporters see him as a fresh, strategic leader whose technical expertise and Middle Belt identity could revitalize party unity and public confidence. With the 2027 elections approaching, his elevation signals a recalibrated balance of power within the APC and a calculated effort to shore up regional support and internal cohesion.
Credit: Punch news
