The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has been elected as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his nomination and endorsement by members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
His nomination was put forward by Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, and seconded by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
The motion was adopted through a voice vote by NEC members during their meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Yilwatda’s election comes at a strategic time for the APC as it seeks to strengthen its political dominance at the national level and in states where recent defections have boosted the party’s ranks.
APC GETS NEW CHAIRMAN IN PROFESSOR NENTAWE GOSHWE YILWATDA. TAKES OATH OF OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is a distinguished academic, a visionary leader, and a passionate advocate for… pic.twitter.com/icjRL8KbYJ— Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) July 24, 2025
President Bola Tinubu appointed him as a minister in late 2023. He was nominated on October 23, 2023, alongside six others, and officially sworn in on November 4 of the same year.
OFFICIAL: Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has been elected as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 14th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party. pic.twitter.com/De6rgGJpha
— APC Nigeria (@OfficialAPCNg) July 24, 2025
The 56-year-old Yilwatda, from Plateau State, takes over from Abdullahi Ganduje as the chairman of the party after the latter resigned from the position in June, citing personal reasons.
BREAKING: The APC NEC officially announced the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda from Plateau State (North-Central), as the new APC National Chairman. pic.twitter.com/vEehS7MtfZ
— Almajiri (@tudunwada__mi) July 24, 2025
“His resignation, which is effective immediately, was offered to enable him to attend to urgent and important personal matters,” the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, had said in a statement.
“In his letter of resignation addressed to the National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, Ganduje expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, for the opportunity to serve the party at the highest level.”
Following Ganduje’s resignation, the APC appointed its Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Dalori, to oversee the party’s affairs.
Ganduje assumed leadership of the APC in August 2023, succeeding Abdullahi Adamu, who also stepped down from the role. Ganduje previously served as governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023.
Earlier this year, President Tinubu appointed him as the Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).