The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially named Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman, following the resignation of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje due to health concerns.

Yilwatda, currently serving as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, is a respected technocrat and politician from Plateau State. He was the APC’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Plateau State election, and his appointment marks a significant shift aimed at rejuvenating the party’s leadership as the 2027 general elections approach.

A former university lecturer, Yilwatda is known for his academic depth and public service record. According to party insiders, his clean political profile, Christian background, and North-Central origin made him a strategic choice for the role.

His emergence followed a late-night meeting in Abuja between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors, with strong consensus from the party’s leadership. The APC National Executive Committee (NEC) is expected to ratify the appointment formally later today.

Yilwatda’s appointment appears to be both symbolic and strategic. With both President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima being Muslims, party insiders confirmed that picking a Christian chairman helps promote religious inclusivity and geopolitical balance especially from the North-Central zone, which includes Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, and Nasarawa States.

A senior APC official described him as:

“Young, smart, well-educated, and untainted by political scandal. He is the breath of fresh air the party needs right now.”

Party faithful and political analysts are already weighing in on the significance of the move. Many believe Yilwatda could help restore the party’s credibility and reconnect it with the grassroots base especially in the Middle Belt, where discontent had grown in recent months.

With APC strategizing for the 2027 polls, the new chairman is expected to hit the ground running, addressing party unity, internal democracy, and voter engagement.