Yilwatda’s Emergence as APC National Chairman Hailed as Strategic, Timely

The election of Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been met with widespread commendation from party stakeholders, who have hailed his emergence as a timely and strategic move for the ruling party.

Professor Yilwatda, who until his election was the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, was unanimously elected on Thursday, July 24, 2025, during the party’s 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa. His nomination was moved by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and seconded by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, following the resignation of the former chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

Prince Ade Omole, an APC chieftain and leader of the party’s Diaspora community, was among the first to react, describing Yilwatda’s election as a “bold step in the right direction.” He stated that the new chairman’s emergence came at a crucial time when the party is focused on strengthening its national base and consolidating power ahead of the 2027 general elections. “We are confident that under Yilwatda’s leadership, the APC will be further repositioned for grassroots engagement, institutional reforms, and electoral dominance,” Omole said.

The North-Central APC Forum also celebrated the appointment, describing it as a “major victory” for the region. The forum, which had for over two years agitated for the return of the chairmanship position to the North-Central in line with the party’s zoning arrangement, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring that “fairness and equity” prevailed. The forum’s chairman pledged full support to Yilwatda and promised that the North-Central region would galvanise its contributions to the party’s progress.

In a similar vein, the Lagos State chapter of the APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, praised the new chairman’s elevation as “well-deserved.” The party lauded Professor Yilwatda’s “unwavering commitment to the party’s ideals, his impressive credentials as a technocrat and public servant, and his long-standing contributions to democratic governance in Nigeria.” The Lagos APC expressed optimism that his leadership would bring renewed unity and strategic direction to the party.

In his acceptance speech, Professor Yilwatda pledged to work with every member to unite and expand the party. His emergence as a technocrat and a former gubernatorial candidate from the North-Central is widely seen as a unifying force, aimed at reconciling internal factions and re-energizing the party’s base.