The All Progressives Congress has appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as its new National Chairman, ending weeks of speculation about the party’s leadership succession.
The appointment was formally announced on Thursday during the party’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, where APC leaders convened to strategize ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda’s emergence as party chairman resolves the leadership vacuum created following the resignation of immediate past National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down from the position citing health reasons.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media & Public Communication, Sunday Dare, confirmed the development through a post on his X platform, announcing that the new chairman was immediately sworn into office.
“APC GETS NEW CHAIRMAN IN PROFESSOR NENTAWE GOSHWE YILWATDA. TAKES OATH OF OFFICE IMMEDIATELY,” Dare wrote, emphasizing the swift transition in party leadership.
The presidential spokesperson described the new APC chairman as “a distinguished academic, a visionary leader, and a passionate advocate for humanitarian and poverty reduction initiatives,” highlighting his extensive background in public service and academia.
According to the announcement, Professor Yilwatda was born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area, and comes from what Dare described as “a lineage of service,” being the son of the late Reverend Toma Yilwatda.
Before his appointment as party chairman, Yilwatda served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, where he oversaw critical government initiatives aimed at addressing social welfare challenges and reducing poverty levels across Nigeria.
His academic credentials and experience in humanitarian work are expected to bring a fresh perspective to the APC’s leadership as the party prepares for the crucial 2027 electoral cycle.
The appointment represents a significant development in Nigerian politics, with the ruling party positioning itself for the upcoming elections under new leadership that combines political experience with humanitarian expertise.
Yilwatda’s immediate swearing-in ceremony underscores the urgency with which the APC sought to fill the leadership position and maintain party cohesion during this critical period in the political calendar.
The new chairman faces the immediate challenge of unifying party ranks and developing strategies to maintain the APC’s electoral dominance as Nigeria approaches another pivotal election cycle.
