The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has emerged as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his nomination and election by the members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, nominated him for the position, and the motion was seconded by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
The motion was then put to a voice vote and passed by NEC members present at the meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
His emergence came at a time when the APC aims to consolidate its hold on power at the federal level and in some states whose governors recently defected to the ruling party.
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 late last year. He, alongside six others, was nominated on October 23, 2023, and sworn in on November 4 of the same year.
READ ALSO: [PHOTOS] Tinubu, Shettima Arrive As APC NEC Meeting Begins
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 took over the reins of APC leadership in August 2023 after Abdullahi Adamu, also a former governor, resigned from the position. Ganduje served as the governor of the North-West state from 2015 to 2023.
In January, President Tinubu appointed the former Kano governor as the Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
