The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman.
Yilwatda, a former governorship candidate of the APC in Plateau State, emerged as the consensus choice following weeks of consultation among key party stakeholders and governors.
His appointment is generally seen as a strategic readjustment by the ruling party to reflect regional balance, religious inclusivity, and credibility.
Professor Yilwatda, a respected academic and public administrator, hails from Plateau in Nigeria’s North-Central region; a geopolitical zone that had clamored for greater recognition in the party’s leadership structure.
His emergence comes after the exit of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who is from the North-West.
Equally significant is Yilwatda’s Christian background, which political observers believe was a critical factor in his selection.
With the APC led federally by a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, Yilwatda’s inclusion sends a symbolic message of religious balance and national integration.
Beyond politics, his technocratic credentials played a crucial role in sealing the party’s decision.
A former university professor and Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yilwatda is viewed as a calm, data-driven leader.
Sources within the APC say President Tinubu and several governors endorsed his appointment not only for his perceived loyalty but also for his ability to unify disparate interests within the party.
As preparations quietly begin for 2027, the APC sees in Yilwatda a chairman who can stabilize internal dynamics and win back support, particularly in the Middle Belt and Northern Christian communities where the party has lost some ground.
